About the Global Deaf Research Institute

The Global Deaf Research Institute (GDRI) was founded on May 17, 2023, by Dr. Lorne Farovitch to address the critical lack of deaf-specific data in global health research and to promote evidence-based advocacy. Growing up deaf with deaf parents in the United States, Dr. Farovitch experienced systemic barriers that motivated his pursuit of a PhD at the University of Rochester Medical Center, focusing on the social determinants of health. However, his frustration with institutional ableism inspired him to create an organization prioritizing radical inclusion and designing research by, of, with, and for the deaf community.

GDRI’s flagship initiative, the Deaf Community Research Initiative, immerses field teams in underserved deaf communities globally. Teams collaborate with local deaf advocacy organizations to design and conduct community-based needs assessments. The findings are analyzed, published, and used to train community leaders in leveraging data for advocacy, fostering sustainable, grassroots impact.

VIEW OUR 2026-2028 STRATEGIC PLAN