Research Projects
Based at the UC Berkeley
School of Public Health, Cal PREPARE builds on CIDER’s
expertise in surveillance, field investigations, epidemiologic
methods, communicable disease control, and training innovations
on preparing vulnerable populations for disasters. Because CIDER
core and affiliated faculty were or are active public health
professionals, we have established strong training, technical
assistance, and research partnerships with the public health
community. To become fully all-hazards and multi-disciplinary,
we have added nationally and internationally recognized academic
research faculty from public health and specialists in weapons
of mass destruction. Although our primary focus will be the
State of California (population 38 million), we will also
conduct research in the state of Hawai'i.
To implement our mission, we will conduct research projects in the following research project areas:
Project 1: All-hazards communication to improve the resilience of vulnerable populations;
Project 2: Early warning, investigation, surveillance: Epidemiology networks in action (EpiNet);
Project 3: Closing the chemical, radiological, nuclear gaps in public health all-hazards preparedness; and
Project 4: Cal PREPARE Exercise Laboratory (EXLAB): Systems research using statewide operations-based exercises.
Project areas 1 to 3 build from the ground up: (1) community resiliency, (2) early warning and investigation, and (3) local countermeasures. These will feed into Project 4 (California EXLAB) to conduct public health systems research using existing statewide operations-based exercises that attract the participation of many agencies including public health, fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and hospitals. We will have an ongoing, cost-effective, and capability-based “laboratory” for researchers (including from other PERRCs) to study high-priority, all-hazards research questions that will benefit California, local jurisdictions, and the nation.
Project 1. All-Hazards Communication to Improve the Resilience of Vulnerable Populations
Substantial evidence exists that all-hazards emergency preparedness and response efforts are not effectively reaching vulnerable populations, especially those who have barriers related to literacy, language, culture, or disabilities: 90 million Americans have low literacy, 22 million have limited English proficiency, and over 32 million are Deaf or hard-of-hearing (Deaf/HH). These groups face higher risks of injury, death, and property loss as documented in recent disasters including 9/11, Katrina/Rita hurricanes, and the 2007 California wildfires—and illustrate the devastating effect of inequalities in our society.
Click Here for Project 1 Description
Project 2: Early Warning, Investigation, and Surveillance: Epidemiologic Networks in Action
The purpose of the
proposed research, Early Warning, Investigation, and Surveillance:
Epidemiologic Networks in Action, is to examine all-hazards
preparedness for conducting epidemiologic investigations and public
health surveillance in California and Hawaii and provide research
evidence for the development of future public health preparedness
activities to strengthen these functions. We recognize that local
jurisdictions throughout California and Hawaii may be operating with
different capacities and capabilities to conduct epidemiologic
investigations and public health surveillance, and that they are in
various stages of public health preparedness given their personnel,
funding constraints, physical/social environments, and politics. The
proposed research will be conducted over four years.
Click Here for Project 2 Description
Project 3: Closing the Chemical, Radiological, and Nuclear Gaps in Public Health All-Hazards Preparedness
The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) will undertake a 4-year research project to assess the abilities of state and local public health departments in California to respond to chemical, radiological, and nuclear (CRN) incidents, whether caused by terrorism or accident. This is necessary because readiness of state and local health departments throughout the United States for incidents involving chemical and radiological materials is low.
CNS, in partnership with the Monterey County Health Department (MCHD) and the California Department of Public Health’s Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control, will focus its initial
analyses on the MCHD’s level of preparedness for and response to deliberately caused CRN events and
accidents involving CRN facilities. As the research project progresses, it will encompass vulnerable
populations and their community-based organizations, a representative number of public health jurisdictions
in California in addition to the MCHD.
Click Here for Project 3 Description
Project 4: California Exercise Laboratory (EXLAB): Systems Research Using Statewide Operations-Based Exercises
Our vision is to conduct high-impact emergency preparedness and response research that saves lives. Our mission is to improve public health and emergency medical systems preparedness and response by conducting collaborative, all-hazards research based on statewide and regional operations-based exercises, and real-time emergency responses.
California's large population (>38 million), its diverse geography, and numerous disaster threats makes this state an ideal setting to establish the California EXLAB. We will launch and implement the California
EXLAB for conducting public health systems all-hazards research. These exercises attract the participation
of many agencies including public health, fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and hundreds
of hospitals. The California EXLAB will be an ongoing, cost-effective, and capability-based “laboratory”
for researchers to study high-priority, all-hazards research questions that will benefit California, local
jurisdictions, and the nation.
Click Here for Project 4 Description
A CDC Preparedness & Emergency Response Research Center (PERRC)
Modified December 4, 2009 JD