PRDA - G:Response Research Centers

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response

Preparedness and Emergency Response
Research Centers
Background
Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Centers (PERRCs) conduct research to evaluate the structure,
capabilities, and performance of public health systems for preparedness and emergency response. The
establishment of these centers was mandated by the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006, which
called for research to improve federal, state, local, and tribal public health preparedness and response systems.
In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office of Public Health Preparedness and
Response, Office of Science and Public Health Practice, awarded $10.9 million over 5 years to 7 accredited
schools of public health for establishing PERRCs. In 2009, CDC awarded another $2.7 million over 4 years to
two additional schools of public health to establish PERRCs. An integral part of the work of these centers is to
help translate study results to public health practice.

Research benefits
PERRC research directly benefits federal, state, local, and tribal public health preparedness and response
activities. For example, research at one PERRC focuses on enhancing the usefulness of preparedness training.
The findings from these studies are expected to identify training modalities that are more effective for improving
response capabilities. The results can be used to help direct scarce resources for training. All PERRC research is
focused on identifying the most critical elements needed to enhance preparedness for all hazards and to close
gaps in public health preparedness and response services.

Research priorities
Each PERRC consists of 3-4 investigator-initiated research projects and an administrative core. PERRC research
projects address one of the four research priority recommendations identified in an Institute of Medicine Letter
Report (2008; available at www.iom.edu/CMS/3740/48812.aspx). This report resulted from a study convened at
the request of CDC. PERRC research also addresses cross-cutting issues for preparedness and response, such as
identifying and addressing the unique needs of at-risk populations and rural communities. State and local public
health departments are collaborative partners in the research being conducted by several PERRCs.

More Information
For more information on PERRCs, go to http://emergency.cdc.gov/cdcpreparedness/science/research
or contact the Extramural Research Program, CDC, Office of Public Health Preparedness and
Response ([email protected]).

CDC Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Office of Science and Public Health Practice (May 2010)

Research priorities and annual funding for the nine accredited schools of public health in the PERRC
program are provided below. (2008-2013)
School

Research Priority

Award

Emory University
(Atlanta, GA)

Create and maintain sustainable preparedness and
response systems

$1,562,676

Harvard University
(Boston, MA)

Generate criteria and metrics to measure
effectiveness and efficiency

$1,717,286

Preparedness to address the risks of vulnerable
populations

$1,495,398

Achieving public health and community readiness for
today’s challenges and future threats

$1,506,306

Preparedness and Emergency Response Research
Centers: A public health systems approach

$1,193,365

Enhance the usefulness of training

$1,470,307

University of
North Carolina
(Chapel Hill, NC)

Create and maintain sustainable preparedness and
response systems

$1,695,189

University of
Pittsburgh
(Pittsburgh, PA)

Create and maintain sustainable preparedness and
response systems and generate criteria and metrics
to measure effectiveness and efficiency

$1,701,845

University of
Washington
(Seattle, WA)

Improve communications in preparedness and
response

$1,270,632

Johns Hopkins
University
(Baltimore, MD)
University of
California*
(Berkeley, CA)
University of
California*
(Los Angeles, CA)
University of
Minnesota
(Minneapolis, MN)

* Funded 2009-2013.

CDC Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Office of Science and Public Health Practice (May 2010)