Press Release

CDC Awards $2.7 Million for Two New Preparedness Research Centers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded $2.7 million to establish two new Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Centers (PERRCs).  These new centers are additions to the existing 7 research centers funded in 2008. These new PERRCs will conduct research that will evaluate the structure, capabilities, and performance of public health systems for preparedness and emergency response activities.

“This is an excellent opportunity to work with a variety of experts to enhance our nation’s public health preparedness systems,” said Dr. Dan Sosin, acting director of CDC’s Coordinating Office for Preparedness and Emergency Response. We look forward to the science-based research these universities plan to provide and implementing it toward supporting public health practice and strengthening our preparedness for future public health emergencies.”

In response to the CDC’s original funding announcement in February 2008, CDC received more than 20 applications from accredited schools of public health seeking funds to develop these centers. The University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Los Angeles were selected to receive funds, but were placed on a wait list until additional funds became available in 2009. There are now 9 PERRCs throughout the U.S.

The establishment of these research centers is mandated by the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006, which calls for research to improve federal, state, local, and tribal public health preparedness and response systems.

Seven schools were awarded $10.9 million in 2008 the first year of the program and the two new PERRCs were added in 2009.  All nine PERRCs will be funded to conduct preparedness and response research over the next four of the five year program.  More than $13 million dollars was awarded to the nine centers in 2009. Similar annual funding is projected for each of the years remaining in the program but can vary depending upon the available budget.  The PERRCs, listed below, will be using this funding to develop new knowledge for strengthening preparedness and response capabilities and public health practice to address emerging threats to the health of our nation.

• Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia – Emory Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Center, $1,576,364
• Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts – Linking Assessment and Measurement to Performance in Public Health Emergency Preparedness Systems, $1,730,974,
• Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland – Mental and Behavioral Public Health Systems Preparedness Research, $1,509,086
• University of California, Berkeley – Achieving Public Health & Community Readiness for Today’s Challenges and Future Threats, $1,509.994
• University of California, Los Angeles – Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Center: A Public Health System Approach, $1,197,053
• University of Minnesota, Minneapolis – University Simulations and Exercises for Educational Effectiveness (U-SEEE) Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Center, $1,483,995
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill – North Carolina Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Center, $1,708,876
• University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – University of Pittsburgh Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Center, $1,715,533
• University of Washington, Seattle, Washington – Northwest Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Center, $1,284,320

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES