Case history of the Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies in New York City.

This case history describes the history of the Center for Urban Epidemiological Studies (CUES), an urban research center based in New York City. Between 1996 and 1999, CUES was transformed from an institution that worked with the medical schools of the region to a center seeking to define a new practice of community-based participatory research (CBPR). The report summarizes how and why CUES has changed, identifies its main accomplishments and challenges, and discusses some of the lessons learned to date. It illustrates how the principles of CBPR have influenced the development of CUES. The case history suggests that it is possible for an organization to transform itself from a researcher-driven orientation toward a more participatory model. The early history also demonstrates that it is possible to engage community organizations and activists in an ongoing effort to study and address complex urban health problems such as asthma, substance abuse, and infectious diseases. Finally, the report illustrates that CBPR is a process that evolves in response to specific situational factors.