UMD-PRC: About Us

UMD-PRC Mission

The University of Maryland Prevention Research Center (UMD-PRC) is a multidisciplinary community of scholars who develop and disseminate evidence-based solutions that prevent and address adverse health outcomes. As a research-to-practice and policy center, our work is aimed at improving public health through direct collaboration with practice and policy partners.

Prevention science is an interdisciplinary field focused on developing strategies that reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. The UMD-PRC has four main, interrelated content areas of prevention research: mental health, substance use, sexual and reproductive health, and violence prevention. We work with a range of populations, including sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities, youth in foster care, justice-involved youth, college students, and expectant and new parents, in response to emergent public health needs of our local area, state, and nation.

The work of the UMD-PRC spans the translational science spectrum and relies on community-engaged methods to advance health equity in a variety of ways, including:

• Conducting foundational research: We take an inter- and transdisciplinary approach to examining health disparities and identifying mutable social determinants of health and behavior.
• Developing and testing interventions: We develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that promote mental, behavioral, and sexual health, including workforce readiness and development programs.
• Implementing and evaluating programs: To improve delivery and maximize impact, we assess the implementation of evidence-based and evidence-informed programs that prevent disease and promote health across our four research areas.
• Informing practitioners and policymakers: We disseminate and communicate findings to practice- and policy-focused audiences to inform public health practice and policy at the local, state, and national levels.
• Training the next generation: A core feature of our work includes training and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral scholars, in community-engaged, transformative prevention research at the intersection of our four research areas.