Dr. Brown’s primary research interests have focused on violence prevention, developing statewide surveillance and reporting systems, and system evaluation. She developed the Kentucky Violent Death Reporting System, which addresses the need for accurate surveillance and data analysis to identify those populations at risk for violent death. She conducts epidemiologic analyses to assist in the development of prevention strategies, including program evaluation. The power of the national system comes from its expansive scope. Successful anti-gang and youth suicide prevention programs were implemented with the help of the NVDRS. The NVDRS software can be tailored almost limitlessly to specific needs. Dr. Brown was also principal investigator on a six-state pilot to develop a Nationwide Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Case Registry; results from the pilot have been implemented with the goal of full nationwide inclusion.
