The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is offering grants to rigorously evaluate innovative strategies aimed at preventing firearm-related injuries, deaths, violence, and crime. This funding opportunity, managed by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, focuses on assessing interventions that enhance safety for individuals, families, schools, and communities. Eligible applicants can choose between two funding options: **Funding Option A**, which supports studies relying on existing data for up to $350,000 annually over two years, or **Funding Option B**, which includes data collection and prevention activity implementation, with awards up to $650,000 annually for three years. Applications must specify the selected funding option and adhere to detailed guidelines to ensure responsiveness.

The CDC prioritizes research that addresses various forms of firearm-related incidents, including homicides, suicides, mass shootings, unintentional injuries, and firearm-related crimes. Proposals should focus on primary and secondary prevention strategies, such as programs that mitigate risks or prevent escalation of violence, rather than tertiary interventions. Applicants are encouraged to use robust study designs, including experimental or quasi-experimental methods, and must articulate clear hypotheses, evaluation frameworks, and data collection strategies. Consideration of unintended consequences and the inclusion of qualitative and quantitative methods are also recommended.

Eligible applicants include state, local, and tribal governments, nonprofits, for-profits, academic institutions, and other organizations based in the United States. Collaborative approaches involving community stakeholders, such as schools, health departments, firearm owners, and faith-based organizations, are strongly encouraged to enhance relevance and the potential for sustainable impacts. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate expertise in firearm-related injury prevention, supported by a track record of relevant research and publications.

Key dates include a **letter of intent deadline on November 1, 2024**, and an **application submission deadline of December 2, 2024**. Proposals will undergo scientific merit review by March 18, 2025, with awards expected to be announced by September 30, 2025. A pre-application webinar will be held on October 22, 2024, providing an overview of the NOFO and addressing applicant questions.

Funding decisions will be based on scientific merit, program priorities, and budgetary considerations. The CDC expects to allocate approximately $4.3 million in FY 2025 to fund up to ten projects. Applications that exceed funding ceilings, lack rigorous methodologies, or fall outside the scope of the NOFO objectives will not be considered. Recipients must comply with detailed reporting, data protection, and translation plans to ensure the applicability of findings to broader public health efforts.

This grant opportunity emphasizes research to reduce inequities in firearm-related risks, focusing on populations disproportionately affected by violence and structural determinants of health. Successful applicants will contribute to evidence-based strategies that address urgent public health concerns related to firearm injuries and violence.