Background about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

The CDC is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services (www.cdc.gov). In 1984, Congress authorized the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a network of academic health centers and their community partners to conduct applied public health research. The CDC was selected to administer the Prevention Research Centers (PRC) network and to provide leadership, technical assistance, and oversight (www.cdc.gov/prc). Each center conducts at least one community-based participatory research project with an underserved population that has a disproportionately large burden of disease and disability.

CDC's Mission

To collaborate to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health - through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats.

Prevention Research Center (PRC)

The Prevention Research Centers work as an interdependent network of community, academic, and public health partners to conduct prevention research and promote the wide use of practices proven to promote good health. RPRC:NCDHR has been a PRC since 2004.