The Kiem project 'Violence as a Population Health Problem' has resulted in a plan to apply for a large, yet-to-be-decided research grant. The so-called pressure cooker session at the heart of the project proved very effective.
'Violence as a Population Health Problem' is one of the 33 interdisciplinary projects started in 2023 thanks to a Kiem grant. The project team looked in a large patient database (article in Dutch) for links between violence and other health problems. In the subsequent two-day hackathon the aim was to take the pilot data found and come up with ideas for a larger research proposal. Twelve people took part in this session, from PhD candidates to professors. They represented the LUMC, LIACS, the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences and the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs.
The Kiem grant was a great catalyst for this initiative, says Professor Marieke Liem, one of the project leaders. 'The fact that this is based on a Kiem proposal gives more direction and a certain cachet to an idea, which makes people more likely to join in.'
Second round of Kiem grants
A second round of Kiem grants has now started. Applicants will find out in a lottery on Thursday 27 June whether their project will be awarded a sum of 10,000 euros.
About the 'Violence as a Population Health Problem' project
The 'Violence as a Population Health Problem' Kiem project was a pilot study based on a large patient database. Researchers looked for links between violence and other health problems. 'Violence should not only be viewed from the criminological perspective but can also be seen as an expression of underlying social, emotional and mental health problems', says Professor of Security and Interventions, Marieke Liem. And vice versa, violence can lead to other health conditions.
'Previous research has shown, for example, that people who are exposed to violence in the home are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease or unexplained physical problems later in life. You can imagine that problems cluster in some households. For instance, homes in which violence occurs also have a high prevalence of alcohol abuse. Or drug abuse or sexual violence or teenage pregnancies.' Liem hopes that this new perspective on violence − as not just a criminal problem but something that can be closely related to physical and mental health − will also help improve how it is approached.
