PEAR’s research spans local, state,national, and binational communities, linking academic inquiry with community priorities to promote equitable, evidence-based action.
Our Research
The PEAR Center has a strong and sustained history of community-driven research focused on health equity, prevention, and collective impact across Arizona and beyond. Building upon the legacy of the Arizona Prevention Research Center (AzPRC), our work is rooted in participatory approaches that center community voices, prioritize culturally grounded strategies, and translate findings into real-world action.
Our research portfolio includes both core prevention projects through the PRC and several tangible, community-embedded initiatives that address social determinants of health, intergenerational well-being, and systems change. Many of these efforts are led in partnership with local health departments, Tribal Nations, community-based organizations, and academic collaborators who share our commitment to equity and mutual learning.
Together, these projects reflect PEAR’s broader mission which is to: partners with organizations at the local, state, tribal and national level to center community voices and promote public health prevention. Guided by our Community Action Board, we collaborate on research, assessment, and mutual capacity building initiatives to address health inequities, inform policy and support social change.