CDC awards funds to universities for research on how to prevent disease and injuries

As part of its new strategy to strengthen and expand the nation's public health research programs at universities, CDC announced today grants of $12.5 million to fund 50 research projects at academic health centers, research centers and university-affiliated programs across the country. The funding is part of CDC's Prevention Research Initiative, an effort to link the talents and skills of university-based scientists with the resources of health departments, community-based programs, and national organizations.

"The awards ensure that public health research activities address problems affecting the nation's communities," says Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan, director of the CDC. "The grants will help CDC and its partners conduct research that can directly improve community health and reduce the need for medical care."

The grants cover a range of subjects, including prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, asthma, genetics and home, workplace and recreational injuries. (See complete list attached.) Activities include centers of excellence in prevention research, research projects to inform public policy, and research investigator training and development. The average grant is approximately $250,000. Most projects are funded for three years.

"This Initiative allows us to identify projects of special concern to individuals, communities and researchers," says Koplan. "We are able to harness the best talent, expertise, and experience of university-based programs and other research partners. The benefits are great as we continue our efforts to fight the causes of disease and disability. "

CDC's Prevention Research Initiative is also supporting projects devoted to establishing priorities for future research. CDC and its partners will develop research agendas that prioritize and focus both extramural and intramural research activities -- especially those needed to respond to complex public health problems and issues.

"We are determined to continue our commitment to work with partners in neighborhoods, government and in the research community of our nation and the world," says Koplan.

Awards by State

Institution/Grantee, Project Title, Principal Investigator

California

Kaiser Foundation Research Institute

"Delivery of Priority Prevention Services" -Thomas Vogt, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Hawaii

University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Policy and Social Research

"Education to Reach Working Teens" - Marianne Brown

Colorado

University of Colorado School of Medicine

"Family-based Intervention to Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity" - Julie A. Marshall

Georgia

Emory University School of Medicine

"Clinical Trials of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine" - Harry Keyserling

Emory University School of Public Health

"Prevention Musculoskeletal Disorders Among VDT Operators" - Fredric Gerr

University of Georgia

"Communicating Genetics Information to the Lay Public" - Roxanne Parrott

Illinois

Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center

"Practical Circadian Interventions for Night Shift Work" - Charmane Eastman

University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health

"Development of Practical Measures of Social Factors and Social Capital in Racial and Ethnic Communities" - Michelle A. Kelley

Indiana

Indiana University School of Medicine

"Strategies to Reduce Genital Herpes Simplex Infections" - Kenneth H. Fife

Louisiana

Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

"Development of Practical Measures of Social Factors and Social Capital in Racial and Ethnic Communities -Lead Center" - Robert M. Goodman

Maryland

Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

"Computer-Tailored Education for Child Safety" - Ellen J. MacKenzie

"Managed Care and Child Safety" - Ellen J. MacKenzie

University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Nursing

"OSHA Guidelines on Violence Prevention in Mental Health" - Jane Lipscomb

Massachusetts

Dana Farber Cancer Institute

"OSH Program Evaluation in Manufacturing and Small Business" - Glorian C. Sorensen

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

"Impact of New Infant Vaccines" - Tracey Lieu

Harvard School of Public Health

"Develop and Implement Methodology for Baseline Assessment and Monitoring of Physical Activity Resources" - Steven Gortmaker

"Cost Effectiveness of Home and Recreational Injury Prevention" - David Hemenway

Michigan

University of Michigan School of Public Health

"Detroit Community-Academic Urban Center" - Barbara Isreal

"Asthma Prevention and Intervention in Impoverished Children" - Noreen M. Clark

"Center for Excellence in Health Statistics" - James M. Lepkowski

Minnesota

Minnesota Department of Health

"Advanced Statistical Methodologies for High Priority Health Issues" - John Oswald

University of Minnesota School of Public Health

"Partnership for Youth Violence Prevention Research and Dissemination" - Michael D. Resnick

Missouri

St. Louis University School of Public Health

"Development of Practical Measures of Social Factors and Social Capital in Racial and Ethnic Communities" - Elizabeth Baker

"Eliminating Health Disparities through Research and Education Opportunities for Preventive Medicine Residents and Public Health Graduate Students" - Matthew Kreuter

"Promoting Walking in Rural Minority Communities" - Ross Brownson

"Optimal Segmentation Strategies for Health Communications" - Matthew Kreuter

St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield

"Caffeine and Naps: Practical Shiftwork Interventions" – Walsh

New Mexico

University of New Mexico School of Medicine

"Development of Practical Measures of Social Factors and Social Capital in Racial and Ethnic Communities" - Nina B. Wallerstein

New York

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

"Varicella Vaccine Safety and Efficacy in Children with Reactive Airway Disease" - Philip S. LaRussa

Columbia University School of Public Health

"Social Determinants of Health" - David Vlahov

"Eliminating Health Disparities through Research and Education Opportunities for Preventive Medicine Residents and Public Health Graduate Students" - Marita K. Murrman

"Asthma Program for Head Start Children" - David Evans

University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

"Active Speed Controls in Highway Work Zones" - Satish Mohan

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

"Educating Families about Colon Cancer Genetic Risk" - Peter T. Rowley

North Carolina

North Carolina State University, College of Engineering

"Ergonomic Solutions for Furniture Manufacturers" - Gary Mirka

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, School of Public Health

"Expand and Refine Intervention for Community-based Diabetes Self-management Program" - Thomas Keyserling

"Center for Excellence in Health Statistics" - William D. Kalsbeek

"Prospective Investigation of Mild Head Injury in Sports" - Carol Runyan

Ohio

University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and Health

"Reducing Violence against Nursing Home Caregivers" - Donna M. Gates

Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health

"Impact of OSHA Inspections on Manufacturing Injuries" - John M. Mendeloff

South Carolina

University of South Carolina School of Public Health

"Development of a Community Based Evaluation Support Network" - Francisco Sy

Tennessee

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

"Timely Evaluation of New Vaccines" - Marie R. Griffin

Texas

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

"School Asthma Screening and Intervention" - Kay Bartholomew

"Gene-Environment Interactions in Cardiovascular Disease" - Molly S. Bray

Washington

Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound

"Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases in Managed Care" - Lisa Jackson

University of Washington School of Medicine

"Preventing HSV-2: Serological Testing, Outcomes and Costs" - Anna Wald

"A Trial of Smoke Detector Types" - Frederick P. Rivera

University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine

"Seattle Partners for Health Communities" - James Krieger

Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Madison

"Wisconsin Production Agriculture Intervention Evaluation" - Larry J. Chapman

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES