CDC-RFA-TU24-0142 Regional Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response, Region 2 - Project Abstract Limited coordination and equitable implementation of evidence-based strategies and interventions (EBSIs) and a collective inability to address systemic racism and other social determinants of health (SDH) has hindered the nation’s public health preparedness and response (PHPR) capacity. Recommendations, including from the 2020 National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Consensus Study, emphasize the need for expanded public health (PH) preparedness and response research and prioritization of a unified approach to translate evidence to practice in line with community needs. Responses to recent PH emergencies—hurricanes, wildfires, COVID-19, and mpox—underscore the need to expand the PHPR evidence base, increase implementation of evidence-based strategies and interventions (EBSIs), and better coordinate efforts regionally and nationally. The 10 CDC-supported Regional Centers for PRPH are critical to achieving this The NYC Pandemic Response Institute (PRI), an initiative led by ICAP at Columbia University (CU) with key partner the City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), brings together an unparalleled team to lead the Region 2 Center for PHPR (R2C) over the next five years. Led by PRI, and drawing on our deep network of PHPR experts engaged in evidence-generation, implementation, and evaluation, our consortium includes partners in each R2 jurisdiction to support this mission: Rutgers University and its Center for Public Health Workforce Development (CPHWD) in New Jersey (NJ), specializing in emergency and disaster preparedness training; the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust (PRPHT), a division of the Puerto Rico Trust for Science, Technology and Research (PRSTRT), the island’s premier PH institute; the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Caribbean Green Technology Center (CGTC), which brings expertise in improving the sustainability and resilience of USVI communities; and the Mount Sinai Center for Healthcare Readiness (Mt. Sinai) in New York(NY)/NJ, specializing in healthcare delivery, disaster preparedness/emergency management, and PH. Together, our consortium brings the expertise and local networks needed to improve coordination and increase EBSI implementation in R2. In Year 1, we will establish the R2C and set up governing structures, which include a Regional Coordinating Body (RCB), Steering Committee (SC), and Advisory Council (AC), to develop and disseminate a five-year regional work plan, including specific activities to meet work plan objectives. In Years 2-5, we will support the execution and evaluation of implementation plan activities, working with our consortium partners in each jurisdiction. Our R2C’s successful collaboration, communication, planning, and execution of the Five-Year workplan will increase the availability of, access to, and implementation and evaluation of EBSIs to improve PHPR practice across R2 jurisdictions. Ultimately, this will contribute to the improved adaptive capacity of R2 to PH threats, and further, we hope to reduce PH emergency-related morbidity, mortality, and health disparities beyond the project life. Across strategies and activities, we will implement cross-cutting approaches that include: 1) prioritization of health equity; 2) a Whole of Society (WoS) approach to engage multisectoral partners; 3) establishment of regional learning network to support regional sharing, coordination, and co-creation; 4) a laser focus on translation of evidence to improved practice; and 5) leveraging our technological infrastructure to support transparent and effective regional collaboration. In addition to our Component A application, we are pleased to also submit proposals for Component C and each Strategy within Components D and E of this NOFO.
