This book from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) focuses on four inter-related public health areas: healthy people across all stages of life, healthy places and communities, preparedness against infectious, occupational, environmental and terrorist threats and improved global health. Protecting and improving the health and well-being of people, communities and the nation is at the heart of public health. There are many things that contribute to our accomplishing our efforts, with science and public health research heading the list. The best possible science to protect the health and safety of Americans and people around the work is the hallmark of public health. Thus, the challenges of our increasingly complex and interdependent world require new approaches to generating and disseminating the knowledge and innovation needed to promote well-being and improve health. As a step toward fostering strategic investments in public health research and science, the CDC, in consultation with the public and a wide range of partners, has developed this comprehensive guide, Advancing the Nation's Health: A Guide to Public Health Research Needs.