The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded $10.9 million to establish Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Centers at seven schools of public health. The new research centers were mandated by the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006 to improve federal, state and local public health preparedness. The schools will conduct research to evaluate the structure, capabilities and performance of public health systems for preparedness and emergency response. “These research centers will connect public health with scientists involved in business, engineering, legal and social sciences to incorporate multiple perspectives into preparedness and response research which can be used to strengthen our nation’s response capability,” said Richard Besser, M.D., director of CDC’s Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response. For the list of schools and their research priorities, see the CDC news release.