WVU Injury Control Research Center

Welcome

Injury has been called the neglected disease of modern society. Among persons aged 1-34 years, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in the United States. The impact of injuries resulting from violence is also substantial. Annually in the United States, intentional and unintentional injuries result in over 170,000 deaths, nearly 30 million emergency department visits, and an estimated $406 billion in lifetime medical expenses and lost productivity. Each year, one in five children are needlessly injured, and one in three Americans 65 years and older suffers a serious fall that often results in loss of independent living or death.

Helmets provide a 63 to 88% reduction in the risk of head, brain and severe brain injury for all ages of bicyclists.

In West Virginia, regional, demographic, and economic factors all contribute to produce injury mortality rates that substantially exceed U.S. national rates. In addition, people living in rural areas have injury rates that are significantly higher than those residing in urban locations. As the state's land-grant flagship institution for both research and patient care, West Virginia University (WVU) is committed to improving the health and safety of West Virginians, and contributing to the national effort to reduce injuries. While significant improvements in emergency medicine, trauma care and injury prevention have occurred over the last 15 years, there remains a critical need for injury research, professional training, and information dissemination activities throughout the state and surrounding region. The WVU Injury Control Research Center is dedicated to addressing this continuing public health problem.

Announcements

  • The West Virginia Prescription Drug Abuse Quitline has published their 1st year Progress report - a PDF file (133K) is available.
  • The academic calendar and schedule of events for the WVU ICRC has been tentatively set and is available.
  • New manuscript examines the effectiveness of health care screening for intimate partner violence.
  • Spring Newsletter is now available.
  • Multiple tenure-track faculty members are now being sought for the WVU ICRC.
  • WVU ICRC and Community Medicine Faculty member Motao Zhu is in the news with his Graduated Licensing Study.
  • Mark your calendar to attend one of the ICRC Public Health Grand Rounds
  • The Injury Control Research Center is hosting AHRQ/HCUP Injury data. New information on impaired driving by state can be found here.
  • Ekta Choudhary tracks injuries in the U.S. Virgin Islands.