Since its inception in 1994, the Center for Research on Preventing and Managing Chronic Illness has promoted and supported research to improve the health and well being of people who are vulnerable to chronic disease because of age, minority status, poverty, and/or rural residence. The National Institute of Nursing Research funded the Center from 1994 to 2005. The School of Nursing continues to support the work of the Center.

The center includes 24 federally funded research projects and a range of services to advance research on preventing and managing chronic illness in vulnerable people.