Program seeks Council approval for an initiative titled “Research on Drowning Prevention.”
Drowning is a leading cause of child mortality and a glaring health equity issue in the United States and globally.
Among 1–4-year-olds in the US, drowning has been the number one cause of preventable death for over 20 years and remains the 2nd leading cause of unintentional injury death in 5-14-year-olds. Significantly higher rates of drowning death and morbidity are found among certain groups in the US and globally, with an alarming 90% of drowning deaths worldwide occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Historically, the NIH’s amplification and support of drowning research was sparse as compared to this leading pediatric burden. In 2022, however, the NICHD led the first ever NIH call for drowning science by way of a Notice of Special Interest. This 2-year Notice ignited and fueled the field’s long-standing passion to conduct this research and resulted in a near 300% increase in the annual rate of extramural drowning applications submitted to the NIH). Three of these applications were funded.
This current initiative aims to continue the tremendous momentum gained by the now expired Notice and further strengthens the NICHD’s focus and fiscal commitment to promoting drowning science which understands and prevents this leading killer of kids. This initiative’s call for transformative research will address the pediatric drowning burden by further understanding drowning disparities, continued discovery of evidence-based interventions, and implementation science to overcome prevention gaps and inequities in harm.
This proposed concept squarely aligns with the NICHD’s Strategic Plan Theme of Improving Child and Adolescent Health and the Transition to Adulthood, and the Pediatric Trauma and Critical Illness Branch priority to develop the most effective prevention, diagnostic, and treatment strategies for the leading causes of traumatic injury in children and adolescents.
Program Contact
Cinnamon Dixon
Pediatric Trauma and Critical Illness Branch (PTCIB)
Back to Concept Review by Council
BACK TO TOP