PRI Also Awarded Funding to Support Coordination of National Network of Regional Centers
NEW YORK, NY (October 17, 2024) – The NYC Pandemic Response Institute (PRI) at ICAP at Columbia University has been awarded a five-year cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish a Regional Center for Public Health Preparedness and Response (PHPR). The Center, one of ten funded nationwide, will serve the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Region 2, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, PRI will provide coordination, technical assistance, and training to all Regional Centers.
“We are honored for PRI to take on this important work,” said Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, MPH, MPA, ICAP Global Director and PRI Lead. “Effective public health preparedness and response are of paramount importance to ensuring the health and well-being of all people in the face of major health challenges.”
The regional center for HHS Region 2 will focus on advancing the implementation of evidence-based strategies and interventions (EBSIs) to strengthen the region’s ability to prepare for and respond to public health threats. In its first year, PRI will convene a Regional Coordinating Body consisting of leaders from across the region to collaboratively select priorities and specific interventions to implement, ultimately developing a five-year workplan for the center. The Center will work closely with state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments, nonprofits, universities, hospitals, and healthcare coalitions throughout the region to achieve these goals.
In addition, PRI will provide coordination, technical assistance, and training to the other regional centers through the development of communities of practice across the country.
“Communities across the United States are experiencing more frequent and more severe major health threats due to climate impacts, outbreaks, and other public health emergencies,” said Mitch Stripling, MPA, director of PRI. “We are committed to ensuring this investment in regional centers by the CDC improves public health practice and our ability to address these challenges throughout the region.”
PRI will work with two partners, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) and Rutgers University. CUNY SPH, PRI’s key partner, will focus on the implementation of EBSIs and supporting community engagement efforts. Rutgers University will collaboratively create and implement a five-year supportive preparedness and response plan for rural areas within Region 2.
The establishment of the Regional Center for PHPR signifies a critical step towards a more resilient and equitable public health system that is responsive to major health threats in HHS Region 2. By fostering collaboration and leveraging evidence-based approaches, the Center will be poised to meaningfully improve health outcomes and minimize disparities for communities across New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
To learn more about the NYC Pandemic Response Institute and its efforts, visit pri.nyc
About NYC Pandemic Response Institute
The New York City Pandemic Response Institute (PRI) is a landmark initiative designed to proactively prepare NYC for future public health threats – from infectious disease to climate-related health emergencies. Its mission is to advance racial equity, build resilience, and promote public health preparedness throughout NYC and around the globe. PRI is led by ICAP at Columbia University with its key partner, the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.
About ICAP at Columbia University
A major global health organization that has been improving public health in countries around the world for more than two decades, ICAP works to transform the health of populations through innovation, science, and global collaboration. Based at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, ICAP has projects in more than 40 countries, working side-by-side with ministries of health and local governmental, non-governmental, academic, and community partners to confront some of the world’s greatest health challenges. Through evidence-informed programs, meaningful research, tailored technical assistance, effective training and education programs, and rigorous surveillance to measure and evaluate the impact of public health interventions, ICAP aims to realize a global vision of healthy people, empowered communities, and thriving societies. Online at icap.columbia.edu
Contact:
Bashar Makhay
NYC Pandemic Response Institute
bm2823@columbia.edu
+1 248 885 4285
Hugh Siegel
ICAP at Columbia University
hs3000@columbia.edu
+1 212 305 6533