URC prevention/intervention priority areas concentrate on many public health problems. What makes them unique is that the partnership decides what problem needs to be investigated or addressed. For example, in the "Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center," diabetes was the problem identified. In the "Seattle Partners for Healthy Communities," domestic violence was the important public health issue needing attention. Still, in New York's "Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies," HIV among injecting drug users was seen as a growing and continuing problem that needed resolution. In addition, there were public health issues common to all three URCs: asthma prevention and control, the investigation of social determinants of health, and structural and social factors that create and reinforce health disparities.

This session will discuss the history of the Urban Research Centers as a conduit for bringing the public back to public health. Community representatives, their public health partners, and other leaders in the field will examine the challenges of building CBPR partnerships that are equitable, effective, and sustainable. They will consider the implications of participatory research for the future of public health. Overall, this session will demonstrate the importance of Urban Research Centers in working to improve the health and well being of communities through participatory research.