PRC History

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1980s

1990s

2000s

1980s

1981	Public health leaders propose a network for applied public health research.
1984	Congress authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to select academic health centers to conduct community-based public health research. CDC is identified as administrator of PRC Program.
1986	PRC Program takes shape as the first three research centers are funded.

1990s

Centers begin collaborating on thematic networks for

tobacco prevention & control
behavioral risk factor surveillance system
school health
women’s cardiovascular health
oral health

Networking concept continues for new themes; those above have become inactive over time.

1990	Program grows to include seven research centers.
1993	Program expands to nine research centers. CDC and other federal agencies sponsor additional research by PRCs by funding special interest projects.
1994	Four additional centers bring prevention research to tribal governments, Appalachia, and the Ozarks; total number of centers reaches 13.
1995	NIH selects PRC Program for the community component of the Women’s Health Initiative.*
1996	One center added to address the national health concern about teenage pregnancy.
1997	Institute of Medicine publishes expert committee review of the program.*
1998	Congress reauthorizes the PRC Program. Nine centers are added to expand regional scope and broaden research themes; brings total number of centers to 23.

2000s

2000	One center is added to reduce the disproportionate burden of cancer in central Appalachia.
2001	Two additional centers enhance the program’s research depth and breadth; brings total number of centers to 26. PRC Program co-sponsors CDC’s annual Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Conference.
2002	Two additional centers are selected to expand the network’s research capacity in both urban and rural health issues. A 2-year PRC fellowship conducted at a PRC is established for doctoral-level students of ethnic or racial minority origin, in collaboration with the Association of Schools of Public Health.*
2003	PRC Program adopts a framework (or logic model) for conceptualizing the research process.
2004	CDC acknowledges 20 years of PRCs’ achievements. CDC completes competitive peer review of applications for Prevention Research Centers and announces the 2004–2009 research period for 33 centers.
2002-present	Centers collaborate on new thematic networks: Healthy Aging Research Network (began 2002) Cancer Prevention & Control Research Network (began 2003) Physical Activity Policy Research Network (began 2004) Latino Health Network (began 2004) Cardiovascular Health Network (began 2005) Managing Epilepsy Well Network (began 2007)

* Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. This link does not constitute an endorsement of this organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at this link.

Page last reviewed: November 16, 2007
Page last modified: November 16, 2007
Content source: Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion