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Vision

To be a worldwide leader in equity-focused violence and injury prevention through research, outreach, training, and education.

Mission

To eliminate the burden of violence and injury by promoting health equity and increasing the number of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community agencies who detect, attend to, and support the development and implementation of effective prevention and intervention programs.

About

The Violence & Injury Prevention Research Center (VIPR), a CDC-funded Injury Control Research Center, is a worldwide leader in violence and injury prevention through research, outreach, training, and education. VIPR is unique in our initial focus on intentional injuries; centering of health equity; focus on the shared risk and protective factors across the social ecology; integrating of research, education, and outreach within a community-based participatory model; and emphasis on health policy and implementation science.

What is an Injury Control Research Center?

Infographic about CDC's Injury Control Research Centers (ICRCs) highlighting their mission, core functions, and achievements. Focus on injury and violence prevention research, outreach, and training. Lists research topics like suicide and opioid overdose. Map of funded ICRCs across the US and funding details. URL included for more info.
A man in a suit speaks at a podium during a conference at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, with a microphone and water bottle visible. A woman and another person are seated nearby.
A woman speaking into a microphone during an event, with a badge around her neck, standing next to a sign about research and data for gender-based violence prevention.
A person standing in front of a presentation slide displaying information about the Texas Violence and Injury Prevention Research Center. The slide includes contact details for Alex Testa and Sandra McKay.

The CDC’s Injury Control Research Center (ICRC) program began in 1987 and has grown considerably since its inception. In 1987, four centers were awarded approximately $500,000 per center each year for five years. By 2019, the program grew to include nine centers who were awarded approximately $833,000 per center each year for five years. Typically, ICRCs are funded for five-year cycles through an externally reviewed, competitive process.

Congress currently appropriates $9 million to CDC's ICRC program to:

  • support core operations,

  • conduct the research necessary to fill gaps in the evidence base for developing and evaluating new injury control interventions and improving translation of effective interventions,

  • conduct training of injury control professionals, and

  • undertake other programmatic activities to reduce the burden of injury.

Leadership

  • Portrait of a man in a suit with a red tie and a short beard, against a blurred background.

    Jeff R. Temple, PhD

    Director

  • Smiling person with dark hair wearing a purple top and gold hoop earrings, standing outdoors with blurred background of greenery and buildings.

    Melissa Peskin, PhD

    Co-Director

  • Smiling man with a beard and suit, close-up portrait.

    Chris Greeley, MD

    Co-Director

  • Woman smiling, wearing a black blazer and blue top, with a necklace, light brown hair in a bob hairstyle, grey background.

    Mary Aitken, MD

    Chair, Advisory Committee

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    Elizabeth Baumler, PhD

    Director of Biostatistics

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    Cary Cain, PhD

    Director of Evaluation

  • Smiling woman wearing glasses and a white coat, possibly a professional or medical personnel.

    Susan Gillespie, MD, PhD

    Director of Community Translation

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiles while wearing a dark blazer and a necklace. She stands in front of a wooden slat wall.

    Shannon Guillot-Wright, PhD

    Director of Health Policy

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    Kim Lopez, PhD

    Director of Outreach

  • A woman with long blonde hair wearing a sleeveless black top, smiling outdoors with greenery in the background.

    Christine Markham, PhD

    Director of Education & Training

  • A woman with braided hair smiling, standing outdoors in a green dress, surrounded by trees and a park-like setting.

    Keisha Ray, PhD

    Director of Bioethics

  • Woman with glasses smiling outdoors in a grassy field with trees in the background.

    Leila Wood, PhD

    Director of Research