A core element of the Public Health IDEAS for Preventing Firearm Injuries initiative is funding research pilot studies to stimulate interest and engagement in firearm research within the University of Michigan School of Public Health community. Unlike traditional pilot mechanisms, these awards are intentionally flexible to address impediments to transitioning to firearm research. This allows us to identify creative opportunities for researchers to join the initiative and support research connections to firearm injury prevention. 

Pilot Study #1:
Designing and deploying community firearm disposal facilities

Michigan Public Health Pilot Study Investigators:

  • Douglas Wiebe, Ph.D.
    Professor, Epidemiology
    Principal Investigator 

This pilot study is co-funded by Public Health IDEAS for Preventing Firearm Injuries, and the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention. This project will use principles of socially-engaged design to bring together community stakeholders, practitioners, and policymakers with designers and engineers to develop solutions to help people dispose of unwanted firearms. This work is integral to developing safe, sustainable and scalable solutions for community firearm disposal.


Pilot Study #2:
Identifying risk factors for intimate partner homicide among transgender and gender diverse individuals

Michigan Public Health Pilot Study Investigators:

  • Sarah Peitzmeier, Ph.D.
    Assistant Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education
    Principal Investigator
  • April M. Zeoli, PhD, MPH
    Associate Professor, Health Management and Policy
    Co-Investigator 

This project plans to use data on intimate partner homicide (IPH) of transgender individuals in the National Violent Death Reporting System to (1) describe the circumstances surrounding IPHs of trans individuals and (2) identify potential risk factors unique to the experiences of trans individuals that are not already included in the Danger Assessment (a validated tool used to predict IPH for cisgender women in abusive relationships). This work will inform an eventual adaptation of the Danger Assessment for trans individuals.

Pilot Study #3:  
Exploring real estate factors as predictors of gun violence

Michigan Public Health Pilot Study Investigators:

  • Roshanak Mehdipanah, PhD, MS
    Associate Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education
    Principal Investigator
  • Douglas Wiebe, Ph.D.
    Professor, Epidemiology
    Co-Investigator 

This pilot study is co-funded by Public Health IDEAS for Preventing Firearm Injuries, and the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention. This study plans to explore what housing instability factors (e.g. tenure status, housing sale transactions, and foreclosures) predict gun violence in the Detroit Metropolitan Area.

Pilot Study #1:
Exploring factors related to firearm violence among LGBTQ+ youth and young adults of color in Detroit, Michigan

Michigan Public Health Pilot Study Investigators:

  • Kristi Gamarel, PhD, EdM
    John G. Searle Associate Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education
    Principal Investigator
  • Gary Harper, PhD, MPH
    Professor, Health Behavior and Health Education
    Co-Investigator
  • Laura Jadwin-Cakmak, MPH 
    Staff, Health Behavior and Health Education
    Co-Investigator
  • Ini-Abasi Ubong, MPH
    Staff, Health Behavior and Health Education
    Co-Investigator

This pilot study is co-funded by Public Health IDEAS for Preventing Firearm Injuries, the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, and the Office of the VP of Research at the University of Michigan. Dr. Gamarel and her team propose to fill gaps in understanding gun violence and firearm injury prevention efforts among LGBTQ+ youth and young adults of color by identifying the specific structural, social, organizational, and psychological factors that may influence gun violence and firearm injury prevention efforts among LGBTQ+ youth and young adults of color in Detroit.

Pilot Study #2:
The Effects of School Shootings on Concealed Carry Licenses and Firearm Background Checks

Michigan Public Health Pilot Study Investigators:

  • Susan Parker, MPP, MS
    PhD candidate, Health Management and Policy
    Co-Principal Investigator
  • Anjelica Gangaram, MA
    PhD candidate, Health Management and Policy
    Co-Principal Investigator

Due to the scarcity of firearm funding and firearm data availability, little is known about how experiencing violence affects firearm acquisition and carrying behavior. Thus, Susan Parker and Anjelica Gangaram will conduct a difference-in-differences study of the effects of school shootings on three important outcomes: 1) firearm sales, 2) concealed carry license acquisition, and 3) firearm hospital emergency and inpatient admissions using unique, newly available data.