Fast Facts About PRCs

What is the PRC Program?

Funds community-based research projects at 37 academic research centers across the United States; 5 developmental and 32 comprehensive centers

Allocated approximately $28 million in FY11 for infrastructure and core research

Authorized by Congress in 1984

Selects PRCs through a competitive peer-review process

Managed by CDC as a set of cooperative agreements

What PRCs do

Conduct research projects that promote health and prevent disease

Build research teams of multidisciplinary faculty

Seek solutions, strategies, and policies that address public health problems

Participate in research networks that address priority health issues, such as healthy aging, cancer prevention & control, and obesity prevention

Build long-term relationships for engaging communities as partners in research

Conduct research in directions guided by advisory boards of community leaders

Develop and deliver trainings that enhance the public health workforce

Conduct additional research funded by other federal agencies, foundations, and nonprofit organizations

What is needed to become a PRC?

Applications are accepted from schools of public health and schools of medicine or osteopathy with an accredited Preventive Medicine Residency. In addition, each Prevention Research Center must have the following capacities:

Multidisciplinary faculty with expertise in public health and working relationships with relevant groups in public health, medicine, psychology, nursing, social work, education, and business

Graduate training programs relevant to disease prevention

Core faculty in epidemiology, biostatistics, social sciences, behavioral and environmental sciences, and health administration

Demonstrated curriculum in disease prevention

Capability for residency training in public health or preventive medicine

Other qualifications that may be prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services