The International Program of The Center for Injury Research and Policy is a reflection of the center's knowledge that injury-related death and disability are preventable events. The goal of working at the international level to promote injury research is important given what is known about the burden of injury in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), injuries accounted for 9% of the world's deaths and 12% of the burden of disease in 2000. The burden of disease measure takes into account, not only mortality, but also disability resulting from injury. Of the world's deaths from injuries, 90% occur in low and middle-income countries. WHO reports an expectation of a substantial increase in the injury-related burden of disease primarily because of road traffic injuries, interpersonal violence, war, and self-inflicted injuries. The Center for Injury Research and Policy recognizes that its expertise can be utilized to impact injury control initiatives in the developing world. For this reason, CIRP has created the international program.
This program has three specific aims.
- To sponsor a short training program where safety and injury research scholars from the developing world will receive six months of training in safety promotion and injury research methods.
- To create an international safety speakers program at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
- To directly collaborate on injury research in the developing world.
Visiting Safety Scholars
The International Visiting Scholar Program was established in 2004. Selected scholars are matched with a CIRP faculty member who serves as their mentor during the training. Scholars apply for a nonimmigrant visiting scholar visa and are expected to sign an agreement stating their intent to return to their home country. The scholars receive in-depth training in injury research methodology and will have the opportunity to pursue research projects with the goal of publishing in U.S. peer-reviewed journals.
International Safety Speakers
In order to enhance international scientific exchange, The International Program invites lecturers each year, specifically experts working in the developing world for academic exchanges in injury research and safety promotion.
International Collaboration
The Center of Injury Research and Policy has established international cooperative agreements to conduct collaborative injury-related research with the following organizations. Future plans include formal collaborative agreements with other international organizations.
· Tongji Medical College, School of Public Health, People's Republic of China (March 2005)
· Wuhan Medical and Health Center for women and Children, People's Republic of China (May 2006).
· One of the goals of the collaborative effort in Wuhan is to establish a research center specifically aimed at childhood trauma and injury control.
· Child Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Center of Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand (2006)
Current Projects
Research Project 1: Sleep Patterns and Farm
Work-related Injuries Among Middle School Students in China (R49/CCR811509), PI: Dr. Huiyun Xiang, funded through Colorado Control Research Center by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Research Project 2: USA-China Agricultural Injury Research Training Project (1D43TW007257-01A2), PIs: Dr. Lorann Stallones & Dr. Huiyun Xiang, U.S. National Institute of Health (Fogarty International Center).
For More Information
Click here for a brochure regarding our international program.
For additional information, please contact
Huiyun Xiang, MD, MPH, PhD
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Center for Injury Research & Policy
Director of the International Program
Phone: (614) 355-2768
Fax: (614) 722-2448
huiyun.xiang@nationwidechildrens.org