The Center for Health Hazards Preparedness (CHHP) at the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences receives extramural funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Awarded in August 2002, CDC Cooperative Agreement U90/CCU422056 (Ronald Atlas, PhD, Principal Investigator) established the CHHP as a coordinator for research, education, and service on the early recognition and response to potential acts of biological terrorism in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and surrounding states.

A second cooperative agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bioterrorism Training and Curriculum Development Program (BTCDP) has expanded the CHHP continuing education program. HRSA Grant Number T01HP01397, “Preparing Health Professions to Respond to Bioterrorism” (W. Paul McKinney, MD, Principal Investigator) was funded in September 2003 and the project was awarded a three-year continuation in September 2006. In April 2007, the BTCDP was moved to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

Under this initiative, U of L is collaborating with the University of Kentucky to develop innovative continuing education for professionals in the fields of medicine, nursing, allied health, public health, healthcare administration, dentistry, pharmacy, mental health, agriculture and veterinary medicine. Particular effort is being made to offer presentations to Appalachian and other underserved communities using videoconference technology and web-based modules. This project addresses the reality that a vast network of responders is required to stabilize a community in cases of terrorism or disaster.