On behalf of CDC, we are pleased to announce the publication of Advancing the Nation's Health: A Guide to Public Health Research Needs,

2006-2015 (formerly known as the Health Protection Research Guide,

2006-2015 and referred to as the Research Guide). The Research Guide is a comprehensive public health research compendium developed by CDC scientists and external partners through extensive public engagement. We would like to thank you and the many other individuals that contributed to this achievement!

The Research Guide is posted to our webpage (http://www.cdc.gov/od/science/PHResearch/cdcra). There you will also find a link to the interactive website that includes capabilities to search and review public comments submitted on the draft Research Guide, as well as html and pdf versions of the Research Guide. If you would like a hard copy of the Research Guide, please email Andrea Barrett at ABarrett@cdc.gov with your request and current mailing address.

The Research Guide will serve as a tool to identify critical research needed to achieve our Health Protection Goals in four interrelated

areas: healthy people across all stages of life; healthy places and communities; preparedness against infectious, occupational, environmental and terrorist threats; and improved global health. The Research Guide will help us and our partners in public health identify knowledge gaps and foster collaborations to achieve even greater health impact. The many valuable contributions of people like you have greatly enhanced this effort! We received over 7,000 public comments during the public comment period and have revised the Research Guide to reflect this input, as well as input from CDC's senior leadership and other federal partners.

We hope you find this to be an invaluable tool and that you will help us in our efforts to keep this a dynamic resource that reflects the priority research needs of public health. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Jamila Rashid, Research Agenda and Promotion Team Leader, Office of Public Health Research, CDC at 404-639-4621 or via email JRashid@cdc.gov. You may also email staff in the Office of Public Health Research, CDC at ResearchGuide@cdc.gov.

Robert F. Spengler, Sc.D.

Director, Office of Public Health Research Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Robin M. Wagner, Ph.D., M.S.

Associate Director for Research Planning and Evaluation, Office of Public Health Research Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Jamila R. Rashid, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Team Leader, CDC Research Agenda and Promotion, Senior Advisor for Special Populations, Office of Public Health Research Centers for Disease Control and Prevention