# Building an agile state-wide research infrastructure to address COVID-19 and emerging threats: insights from an equity-centered public health and academic collaboration in California

## TL;DR

This paper describes a collaborative effort in California to build a research infrastructure for addressing public health threats like COVID-19.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a state-wide partnership model that prioritizes equitable research and real-time evidence generation.

## Key findings

- The CPR3 infrastructure streamlines data sharing between researchers and public health agencies.
- The model emphasizes community-driven research agendas to address diverse public health needs.
- The collaboration provides a framework for academic and public health entities to jointly respond to emerging threats.

## Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for efficient real-time evidence generation to inform public health interventions and policies. To address this gap, a formalized research partnership between the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the University of California (UC) was created. The aim of this case study is to describe the achievements and lessons learned from the California Collaborative for Public Health Research (CPR3). This state-wide infrastructure (1) streamlines data sharing and use between UC researchers and public health agencies; (2) sets priority research agendas that reflect the needs of the state’s diverse communities; and (3) fosters research collaboration and evidence translation. This partnership may serve as a guide for how academic and public health entities can jointly prioritize, conduct, and act upon policy-relevant research for current and emerging threats.