Date Posted: March 1, 2023

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health Human Development (NICHD), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research (OBSSR), Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), and the Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office (SGMRO) published a request for information (RFI), NOT-NR-23-008, to gather public input on priority scientific direction in violence against women (VAW) research. The research focuses on cisgender, transgender, and gender-diverse persons who identify as a woman or girl, as well as other individuals assigned female at birth, but who may not identify as a woman or girl. In this request, VAW is considered broadly to include, but is not limited to, domestic or intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual assault and rape, dating violence and abuse, peer violence, physical and mental abuse, sexual coercion, stalking, homicide, and elder mistreatment.  

VAW is pervasive, with approximately 30% of women worldwide experiencing some form of exposure to violence in their lifetime. In addition to physical injury and mortality, women exposed to violence have a range of other adverse physical and mental health conditions such as poor pregnancy outcomes, the development of chronic diseases and conditions, depression, and substance use. Like other forms of violence, the factors that influence VAW are deeply rooted in structural and social inequities such as poverty, educational attainment, and community conditions. Concerted efforts that address the underlying causes of VAW offer the greatest opportunity to make sustained improvements in the prevention and ultimate elimination of VAW. NINR, ORWH, NICHD, NIMHD, OBSSR, ODP, and SGMRO are committed to advancing VAW research to accelerate progress in the prevention of VAW and the mitigation of its health effects. This request is intended to complement ongoing  Violence Research Initiatives at NIH to support research to understand, prevent, and address VAW and its health impacts. 

NINR, ORWH, NICHD, NIMHD, OBSSR, ODP, and SGMRO seek input from academic researchers, patient and family advocates, scientific and professional organizations, healthcare professionals, federal partners, internal NIH partners, and other interested members of the public. Responses should be submitted via email to NINRProgram@nih.gov no later than Friday, March 31, 2023. Please indicate “VAW RFI Response” in the subject line of the email. For a list of suggested topics and additional information, please refer to the RFI announcement.