CHILD SAFETY RESEARCH AT CIRP
The Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) believes a multidisciplinary approach, involving several scientific disciplines working collaboratively, is best when trying to prevent or promote recovery from childhood injury. CIRP's child safety research team is composed of professionals from the fields of emergency medicine; pediatric trauma; pediatric and adolescent development; nursing; epidemiology and biostatistics; biomechanical and computational engineering; psychology; behavioral science; urban planning; communications; and health education.
The CIRP team collaborates to study injury topics comprehensively and to provide evidence-based, actionable solutions for parents, educators, industry, government, and other stakeholders. Our research is organized by the following areas of focus.
Child Occupant Protection
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury for all children. Because children are not simply "small adults," there is a need for research into age-appropriate child restraint systems, vehicle designs for optimal child protection, and best practices for child passenger safety.
Crash Avoidance and Autonomous Vehicles
CIRP researchers are studying how teens and other vulnerable populations interact with highly autonomous vehicles and use crash avoidance systems technologies to inform vehicle design and increase safety for drivers and passengers.
Minds Matter Concussion
As a CHOP Frontier Program, the Minds Matter Concussion Research Program seeks to learn from every child that we care for and rapidly translate cutting-edge research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of concussion to optimize individual outcomes.
Teen Driving Safety
The CIRP team is working to reduce the frequency and severity of teen crashes by conducting rigorous research to both analyze factors associated with teen crashes and to develop interventions to improve skill acquisition and training, promote safe driving behaviors, and comply with GDL.
Traffic Medicine and Transportation Equity
CIRP is collaborating with the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland, Brown University School of Public Health, the University of Pennsylvania, and other organizations to conduct research to promote equitable and safe mobility for all.
Transportation Planning for Safe Mobility
With its mission to prevent and minimize injury among children and youth, CIRP has been building partnerships and expertise to ensure communities and industry consider children, youth, and other vulnerable populations in their transportation technology and transportation planning.
Traumatic Stress
Traumatic stress research is being conducted at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to help children recover emotionally after injury and to improve models of post-injury care.
Violence Prevention
Research conducted at the Center for Violence Prevention at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is helping to reduce the incidence and impact of aggression on children and families through educational programming in schools, screening for risk in clinical settings, and direct casework with injured youths.
Child Safety Research Tools and Data Resources
CIRP has a variety of research tools and data resources that were developed utilizing our interdisciplinary approach to child injury prevention science.
Publications
CIRP researchers have published hundreds of articles in scientific journals.
