The Foundation has two main purposes:

• to research both the cause and effects of violence and group conflict

• to educate health workers about these causes and effects

The Foundation achieves these aims by supporting the research of others by means of grants as well as the direct commissioning of research. 

Education is achieved by supporting the journal Medicine, Conflict & Survival as well as providing grants for suitable publications, conferences and conference attendance.

Violence and group conflict is a broad term. The Foundation focuses on group violence and conflict arising from state and non-state actors rather than individual based criminal violence. The causes and effects can be physical, social and psychological in nature that have a health focus.

Environmental effects of conflicts that impact in health are also within the Foundation’s scope.