Disability Research and Dissemination Center

The Disability Research and Dissemination Center (DRDC) is a partnership among three PI-Institutions: the University of South Carolina (USC), the State University of New York Upstate Medical University (SUNY Upstate), and the American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD).

Expanding the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

The DRDC was formed in 2012 through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in order to expand the capacity of the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) to identify and fund the best research in the field of birth defects, disabilities, human development, and blood disorders; to foster training of health and public health professionals through fellowships; to complete specific projects to advance disability science and evidence-based practice; and to use progressive mechanisms to disseminate knowledge.

The DRDC’s External Advisory Council is composed of 18 nationally acclaimed academicians and advocates who have input regarding the activities to ensure that DRDC’s major objectives are attained.

DRDC Core Areas

The five core areas within the DRDC are:

  • Administration.
  • Research.
  • Research Translation.
  • Evaluation.
  • Dissemination & Policy.

The Administrative home of the DRDC is at USC’s Arnold School of Public Health, which is also responsible for the conduct of Research activities. SUNY-Upstate provides leadership for the Research Translation Core and also houses the Evaluation Core. The Dissemination and Policy Core of the DRDC is directed by the AAHD.

DRDC team

The DRDC team has the infrastructure to support researchers throughout the US who are pursuing research projects.

The staff at the NCBDDD three divisions:

  • Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.
  • Human Development and Disability.
  • Blood Disorders.

The staff at the three divisions use the DRDC to issue Requests for Applications (RFAs), with new ones announced each January. These projects are directed toward prevention, early intervention, and health promotion, and they are designed to answer NCBDDD study questions. DRDC maintains close interactions with NCBDDD to offers infrastructure that can promote and support new or ongoing projects.

Please visit the DRDC at www.disabilityresearchcenter.com to learn more about the DRC.

DRDC Updates

DRDC Funded Projects  Click here.

DRDC Funded Publications  Click here.

Visit NCBDDD, Disability and Health website at www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth

NCBDDD Research Funding Opportunities  Learn more here.

Visit DRDC website at www.disabilityresearchcenter.com/

NCBDDD Scientific Publication Repository