Dr. Danielle Davidov secures grant from Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Danielle Davidov, Ph.D., West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI) research scholar and assistant professor in the West Virginia University (WVU) Schools of Medicine and Public Health, has become the first researcher in West Virginia to secure a grant from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). PCORI funding is extremely competitive; only 16 percent of applications were funded this cycle. Davidov’s proposal “The West Virginia Collaborative for Intimate Partner Violence Screening,” addresses a critically important issue.

Every year in the U.S. seven million women and five million men experience intimate partner violence (IPV). Despite this, healthcare professionals are only able to identify approximately 3 to 10 percent of IPV victims. This is largely due to low screening rates, especially in rural and underserved areas like Appalachia. To address this, Davidov’s project aims to engage IPV victims, survivors, and community stakeholders to generate patient-centered comparative effectiveness research questions that will inform safe and effective IPV screening in healthcare settings throughout West Virginia.

“This type of extramural funding is extremely important, enabling essential research. Dr. Davidov is a shining example of successful transformation from junior to independent investigator. Moreover, her success demonstrates what WVCTSI is really about, addressing health issues disproportionality impacting our citizens,” said Sally Hodder, M.D., WVCTSI director and associate vice president of clinical and translational science at WVU.

“I am so excited to be working with the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence on the first West Virginia PCORI project. It is an honor to collaborate with such a diverse group of stakeholders on a project that has the potential to improve the lives of patients and their families in my home state,” said Davidov.

This project is being led by the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WVCADV), a statewide network with over 35 years of experience successfully engaging communities to provide IPV-related services, training, and policy development.

“I truly believe that if we engage our communities, and specifically, victims and survivors of IPV, we can begin to identify and break down the barriers that stand in the way of successful IPV screening and bring better care to our patients,” said Davidov.

Davidov will present her work addressing IPV at an upcoming special “Meeting of the Minds” event sponsored by WVCTSI and the Mountaineer Health Initiative. During this event, Davidov will join a multidisciplinary panel of experts from across the country to discuss the topics of women, violence, and impact on health. For more information on this event, click here.