About the Public Health Research Institute (PHRI):
The Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA) established and launched the Cabarrus PHRI in November of 2008.
In response to increasing requests from partners affiliated with the new North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC),
CHA wanted to create an institute specifically dedicated to addressing these requests and identifying new
research opportunities based on public health needs in this community. Thus, the PHRI was established in
order to streamline our efforts to partner with the NCRC and other surrounding partners with an interest in
advancing public health knowledge and practice through collaborative research projects.
Public Health is a critical element to ensuring successful health promotion and disease prevention in a community;
therefore, it was important that CHA play a role on the NC Research Campus, which shares these same goals.
CHA provides numerous public health programs and services to various populations throughout Cabarrus and
neighboring counties. Our clients and partners are valuable resources for research purposes, making CHA a
desirable partner for NCRC scientists, who can benefit from our programs already in place. Now that the
PHRI has been established, we have a specific unit within CHA dedicated to this type of collaboration and
exploration of new public health research opportunities.
To facilitate and develop research that will advance the knowledge and effective practice of public health,
particularly through collaborations between the Cabarrus Health Alliance and partners on the North Carolina Research Campus,
as well as other academic, corporate, governmental, and community-based partners.
Board of Directors
The work of the PHRI is guided by a Board of Directors, made up of NCRC and other community partners. Many of the various
universities involved with the NCRC are represented on the PHRI Board. Each member contributes experience and expertise necessary
to evaluate community health needs and to identify and initiate collaborative research opportunities to address these needs.
The PHRI Board requires a two-year term of service and meetings are held on a quarterly basis.
The first undertaking of the PHRI included developing an inventory of potential research "assets" available through CHA.
This inventory will be used to educate scientists and partners about CHAs programs and services, including partners and populations served.
This will allow researchers to identify areas of potential collaboration, based on their specific research goals and where these may fit within current CHA programs.
The assets inventory is updated quarterly.
For more information regarding PHRI, please contact:
Paige Waldrop, MSPH
Executive Director, Cabarrus Public Health Research Institute
Cabarrus Health Alliance
1307 S. Cannon Blvd.
Kannapolis, NC 28083
O. 704-920-1311
F. 704-933-3345
rpwaldrop@cabarrushealth.org
