UT Prevention Research Center
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The Prevention Research Center is directed by Dr. Susan Tortolero, Assistant Professor in the Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences.
Office: UCT 2622
Phone: (713) 500-9634
Email: Susan.Tortolero@uth.tmc.edu
The University of Texas Prevention Research Center (UTPRC), established in 1986, is one of the oldest centers in the 33 member Prevention Research Center (PRC) Program network, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC’s network of prevention research centers brings academic researchers, community members, and public health agencies together to collaborate on developing effective strategies to promote health, prevent disease, and manage complications of illness and injury that may evolve over time. Since inception, the UTPRC research theme has been, “From Healthy Children to Healthy Adults.” Past and present research projects address lifestyle behaviors often established during youth that can cause serious health problems for young people now and in the future. These behaviors include tobacco use, eating an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, alcohol and drug use, and engaging in risky sexual behaviors. Additional areas of research include asthma, cancer, school health, tobacco prevention and control, immunization, and oral health. Collaboration with community is key to the success of the UTPRC program. The Community Advisory Group (CAG) is an established network of community representatives engaged in partnerships with UTPRC researcher to plan and implement program and activities that enhance local capacity to address child and adolescent health behaviors. The group helps to define local health priorities, guide the UTPRC research agenda and establish participatory approaches to improve adolescent and child health.
Research areas of the Center:
- Longitudinal study of adolescent health
- School based physical activity and academic performance
- Cancer prevention and control research network
- Professional education impacts on cancer screening
- Attitudes about influenza vaccine
- Intervention programs to prevent HIV, STD and pregnancy among adolescents
