CE24-001, ICRC, MCW CIC CENTER GRANT: WORKING TOWARDS HEALTH EQUITY IN INJURY PREVENTION

PROJECT SUMMARY The prevention and control of injury disparities is one of the major public health challenges of this century. The Comprehensive Injury Center (CIC) at the Medical College of Wisconsin is committed to reducing the burden and disparity of injuries and violence through trans-disciplinary collaborations that bring together expertise and resources to advance innovative and novel approaches to injury prevention and control and maximize their effect. The CIC's goals are to: 1) Advance the science of health equity in injury prevention and control by facilitating, conducting, and disseminating interdisciplinary translational research that leads to novel findings across all levels of prevention for populations who experience or are at risk for injury-related health disparities; 2) Develop, implement, and evaluate multi/inter-disciplinary educational opportunities that emphasize health equity to educate and train both current and the next generation of injury prevention researchers, practitioners, and educators, as well as community partners and leaders; and 3) Maintain, develop, and foster model partnerships for the health and safety of marginalized populations at greatest risk for injury disparities, including partnerships with public health organizations, community groups, as well as other public and private sectors and systems that facilitate, translate, and disseminate evidence-based injury prevention and control programs and policies. To achieve these goals, the CIC will support and integrate outreach, training, and research to address the NCIPC and NCIPC Director's priorities and facilitate the translation of research to practice for those experiencing injury disparities. The proposed research projects will impact injury and violence prevention and control to achieve health equity by: 1) addressing health equity and barriers to access to care in emergency departments for mild traumatic brain injury; 2) investigating the role that police violence has in risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young Black men; 3) evaluating the intersectionality of race, socioeconomic position, and alcohol in risk for firearm related suicide and homicides; and 4) determining the role of detoxification in preventing or contributing to opioid overdose and how race and socioeconomic position play a role in treatment. Together, these research projects will make a significant impact on advancing our understanding of how prevention efforts can reduce disparities in marginalized people and communities.