The CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) RFA-CE-25-021 for "Research Grants for Preventing Violence and Violence Related Injury." This NOFO aims to fund research that investigates and evaluates innovative programs, practices, or policies to prevent community violence, with a particular emphasis on approaches that address racial and ethnic inequities in violence risk. The research should focus on youth and young adults ages 10-34, addressing all forms of community violence, including assaults, homicides, group violence, and weapon threats or usage.

The total funding for FY 2025 is expected to be $3.2 million, distributed across up to eight awards, with each award offering a maximum of $400,000 per year over a potential three-year period. Eligible applicants include state, local, and tribal governments, educational institutions, and certain non-profit organizations. Foreign organizations or components are not eligible.

Applications should propose rigorous research designs, ideally randomized controlled trials or robust quasi-experimental designs, to assess the effectiveness of selected prevention strategies. The NOFO outlines three primary research objectives for proposals:

1. Evaluating innovative approaches with potential for immediate or near-immediate (within six months) benefits in reducing violence and associated inequities.
2. Assessing place-based prevention strategies that modify the environment to decrease violence risks.
3. Studying approaches that target social or structural conditions—such as economic, housing, and educational strategies—that contribute to community violence and inequities.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate the impact of these interventions on violence reduction, with particular attention to addressing health inequities. Mixed-method approaches are encouraged, along with engagement of community members in research design and implementation to ensure relevance and community involvement. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to assess unintended outcomes and include economic evaluations when feasible.

Applications are due by December 2, 2024. The selection process will involve scientific merit review and may prioritize projects led by Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) or organizations with a history of serving underrepresented groups.