Initial research and evaluation activities of the Public Health PBRN Program are intended to provide a descriptive characterization of networks during their early stages of development. This descriptive ‘network analysis’ will provide a baseline for tracking changes in network structure and function over time. The information generated through these activities is intended to be useful for a variety of audiences, including current grantees and others interested in developing or expanding public health PBRNs, as well as policy and practice stakeholders interested in using the evidence and insight to be produced through PBRNs.