Research and Training Centers

The School of Public Health is host to nationally and internationally recognized centers focused on high-caliber research, outreach, and training. Reflecting the breadth of research conducted within the School, these centers share a common goal of improving the health of all populations--and in doing so, they play a critical role in advancing the mission of the School.

Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS)

Director: Will Hueston

Contributes to the safety and security of the global food system and significantly strengthens Minnesota's ability to anticipate and respond to emerging issues and imminent threats from animal and foodborne diseases.

Center for Environment and Health Policy (CEHP)

Interim Director: William Toscano

Focuses on improving the assessment, management, and communication of environmental health risks and fostering better environmental policy decisions.

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP)

Director: Michael Osterholm

Strives to reduce illness and death from infectious diseases by conducting original, interdisciplinary research and by facilitating public policy refinement and the adoption of science-based best practices among professionals and the public.

Centers for Public Health Education and Outreach (CPHEO)

Associate Dean for Public Health Practice Education: Debra Olson

Identifies professional and public learning needs and develops strategies to meet them in partnership with School faculty and public health professionals.

Training centers within CPHEO include:

• University of Minnesota: Simulations and Exercises for Educational Effectiveness (U-SEEE)
• University of Minnesota Center for Public Health Preparedness
• Midwest Center for Life-Long-Learning in Public Health
• Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety
• Midwest Consortium for Hazardous Waste Worker Training, partner
• Minnesota Emergency Readiness Education and Training
• Great Lakes Regional OTI Education Center, partner

Center for Violence Prevention & Control (CVPC)

Director: Susan Gerberich

Facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration in research that can ultimately affect the prevention and control of violence.

Center for Youth Health Promotion (CYHP)

Director: Mary Story

Disseminates to schools and communities innovative youth health promotion programs and materials created in the Division of Epidemiology.

Center on Aging (COA)

Director: Robert Kane

Fosters basic and applied interdisciplinary research and education in gerontology and geriatrics education, research, and service.

Center to Study Human-Animal Relationships and Environments (CENSHARE)

Director: R.K. Anderson

Creates opportunities to acquire, disseminate, and apply knowledge about the relationship between animals, humans, and their shared environment to improve the quality of life for all.

Epidemiology Clinical Research Center (ECRC)

Director: Kristine Ensrud

Facilitates studies that conduct research in osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, estrogen, exercise and cardiovascular disease prevention.

Health Survey Research Center

Center Faculty Director: Eileen Harwood, Ph.D.

The Health Survey Research Center, an Internal Service Organization (ISO), provides services to researchers and administrators from the School of Public Health, the Academic Health Center, the wider University of Minnesota community, and beyond to meet their survey research needs. A fee-for-service unit, the center is situated within the School of Public Health¿s Dean¿s Office and is physically located at the 717 Delaware St. building in Suites 132-145.

Health Survey Research Center services fall into three general areas of expertise: (1) survey data collection, (2) data processing, and (3) participant handling. Within each of these areas, the center provides a wide range of services.

HSRC is HIPAA compliant and has over 20 years of experience in supporting a wide variety of health related studies and investigators.

For more information, visit the center website.

Minnesota Area Geriatric Education Center (MAGEC)

Director: Robert Kane

Pursues an interdisciplinary approach to advancing the quality and quantity of geriatric content in the health sciences.

Minnesota ECG Coding Center

Director: Richard Crow

Documents the prognostic and diagnostic value of electrocardiography for epidemiological studies and clinical trials nationally and worldwide.

Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP)

Director: Cindy McComas

Helps Minnesota businesses implement solutions that maximize resource efficiency, prevent pollution, and reduce costs to improve public health and the environment.

Nutrition Coordinating Center (NCC)

Director: John Himes

Develops, provides, and supports state-of-the-art methods and databases for researchers collecting and analyzing dietary data.

Regional Injury Prevention Research Center (RIPRC)

Director: Susan Gerberich

Provides a multidisciplinary program for the prevention and control of injuries, including catastrophic and long-term disabling injuries, with attention to the rural environment.

Research Data Assistance Center (ResDAC)

Director: Marshall McBean

Provides assistance to academic, government, and non-profit researchers interested in using Medicare and Medicaid data for their research.

Rural Health Research Center (RHRC)

Director: Ira Moscovice

Conducts research and disseminates information that will help policymakers better address the unique health care needs of rural America.

State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC)

Director: Lynn Blewett

Helps states monitor rates of health insurance coverage, understand factors associated with uninsurance, and evaluate state policy initiatives.