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Press Release
For Immediate Release:
April 27, 2004 |
Contact: CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286 |
CDC Boosts External Research to
Protect Americans' Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces that it is
committing almost $30 million in new funding to support innovative public
health research aimed at further promoting and protecting the health of
Americans, with an immediate focus on producing a body of evidence that will
help employers make better choices in wellness programs. The CDC’s new
Health Protection Research Initiative aims to strengthen public health
research by encouraging more individuals and institutions to engage in
research that will result in measurable improvements in public health. The
availability of funds was published in the NIH Guide for Grants and
Contracts on April 23, 2004.
The first element of this new research initiative targets projects that
will provide employers with the evidence they need to promote the health of
their workforce. CDC has found employers need more science-based evidence to
choose the best options among various benefit programs and workplace health
promotion programs. This part of the new initiative is not intended to
address occupational health and safety issues but to focus on broad health
promotion.
“We know that there are many steps that all Americans, including workers,
can take to protect their health, such as not smoking, making healthier food
choices, and staying active,” said Department of Health and Human Service
Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. “This new initiative will help us to better
understand just how effective these steps are and what else can be done to
help more Americans make these kinds of healthier choices.”
CDC expects projects designed to affect health in the workplace will have
a positive economic and health impact. For example, with more than 60
percent of U.S. adults being overweight or obese, the direct and indirect
costs of diabetes were estimated at nearly $132 billion in 2002, and annual
U.S. medical expenditures attributed to obesity are estimated at $93 billion
in 2002 dollars. The economic cost of obesity to business, including health,
life and disability insurance and paid sick leave by private sector firms
was estimated to be at least $15.4 billion in 2002.
For this purpose CDC will dedicate up to $14 million to support 20 to 40
grants. Grant applications will go through an external peer-review process
to gauge their effectiveness in responding to the intent of the research
initiative. Applications are open to researchers affiliated with public or
private academic or research institutions, eligible agencies of the federal
government, units of state or local government, and health care
organizations.
“This initiative is a very positive step in our efforts to promote better
health in America. Despite our best efforts to date, we do not yet have the
research to tell us the best ways to combat a large proportion of health
risks. With this new program, CDC is investing in closing the gaps in our
knowledge so that we can move toward a time when all people will achieve
their expected life span with the best possible quality of health,” said CDC
Director Dr. Julie Gerberding.
Two additional blocks of funds are aimed at expanding training to
increase the number of individuals and institutions involved in public
health research. Up to $10 million will support development of a corps of
independent, public health researchers to address national public health
priorities. And up to $4 million is targeted to support institutions of
higher learning to develop training programs that will prepare highly
qualified scientists to lead innovative public health research in the
future.
An additional $1 million has been allocated to establish a Center for
Excellence in Health Promotion Economics. This new academic research center
would apply economic theory and methods to improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of health protection programs in priority areas.
Through this initiative, CDC hopes to engage dozens of new researchers in
understanding the nation’s most compelling public health problems and in
developing and evaluating effective solutions that will lead to measurable
improvements in health promotion and protection.
“Public health research is the essential step to translate scientific
findings into the kinds of health actions that employers and individuals
alike will be willing to take to improve their health and better protect
themselves from emerging infectious, environmental and terrorist threats,”
Dr. Gerberding said.
“We know a great deal, but we need to know more, and we need to increase
the pace with which we develop programs that work. This research funding is
designed to engage more people in this crucial effort,” she said.
Research proposals for the workplace and individual training components
are due June 21, while applications for the institutional training and
health economics components are due June 22. Awards are expected to be made
in September 2004.
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CDC protects people's health and safety by preventing and
controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing
credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living
through strong partnerships with local, national, and international
organizations.
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