The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has selected Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia to manage a new $19 million program called Public Health Law Research.
The new program, under the direction of Temple law professor Scott Burris, JD, an internationally recognized expert on the influence of laws on public health, will fund research that explores legal and regulatory solutions to pressing health challenges such as infectious and chronic diseases, and health emergencies such as floods, bioterrorism and epidemics.
“We expect this program to launch a new era of research through the best talent in law and public health," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "We know that strong policies and laws can help Americans lead healthier lives."
Burris said research funded through the new program will answer fundamental questions such as: How do laws influence health and health behavior? Which laws have the greatest impact? Can current laws be made more effective through better implementation or revision? The program's research will also support efforts to improve scientific methods for studying the impact of laws on health.
“Laws have dramatically improved the public’s health by influencing individual behavior, such as increasing seatbelt use and requiring immunizations for children,” said Burris. “New threats like bioterrorism, pandemic flu, chronic diseases, hurricanes and breakdowns in food safety will raise legal challenges and potential solutions. We need to understand and anticipate those challenges to protect and promote the public’s health.”
The first call for proposals under the new program will be announced early to mid-spring. Universities and other research institutions from around the country will be invited to submit proposals.