Fall 2025 was a busy and productive semester at The New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC)! We partnered with organizations across New Jersey, the mid-Atlantic, and the U.S., funded new research, presented at conferences, and led trainings for students and professionals. Here’s what we did last fall to advance gun violence prevention and put research into action.
Connecting with Partners and Stakeholders Across New Jersey and Beyond
We’ve been busy connecting with state officials and community leaders on community safety issues of focus in New Jersey, attending events, and talking to policymakers about upcoming projects and recent bills. With a new governor coming in this month, we look forward to continuing to partner with the state and the new administration. On campus, we’ve discussed our work with the Clinical Psych PhD graduate students during their grand rounds.
In September 2025, we hosted our annual NJ GVRC Summit – bringing together over 100 researchers, community leaders, policymakers, and practitioners from the tri-state area and beyond. Our goal for the day was to learn about recent work in the firearm violence prevention field and provide a space for open dialogue and connection. Check out our coverage and takeaways from the day here.
Supporting and Publishing Impactful Firearm Violence and Injury Prevention Research
This past fall we were thrilled to be able to fund more than $1.1 million in new grants to support 12 research projects focused on preventing gun violence. The funded projects span a wide range of topics and methods, from secure firearm storage for suicide prevention to community violence intervention and policy research. They also represent a mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches, ensuring that the work funded reflects both data-driven insights and lived experiences. We’re excited to hear about these projects progressing in 2026 and learn from their insights. Check out the awardees here, and keep an eye out for future funding opportunities!
In addition to funding other’s work, we also conducted our own research. We’ve published multiple papers this fall that focus on the intersection of homicide and suicide, political affiliation and firearm behaviors, racial disparities in victim compensation among homicide survivors, and related topics. Stay up to date on our papers through our social media and mailing list.
Recent Convenings and Conferences
We’ve had a fruitful fall of connecting with colleagues and presenting work at several conferences.
In November, our entire team flew to Phoenix, AZ, to participate in three days of networking, presenting, and learning about the latest research in the field of firearm injury at the 2025 National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms. Our team had five posters presented and five oral presentations. Oral presentations by Jennifer Paruk, Kim Burke, Allie Bond, Dan Semenza, and Mike Anestis focused on the implementation of Project Safe Guard trainings in the United States National Guard, changing demographics among individuals who have died by firearm suicide, the connection between gun violence exposure and racial health disparities, and perceptions of safety and laws among Black firearm owners.
Dan Semenza also took part in the conference’s early-career mentoring breakfast, offering guidance and advice to those early in their gun violence prevention careers. In addition, our team moderated four other sessions and hosted a workshop titled “Research to Impact: Communicating the Science of Gun Violence Prevention.” It was a packed few days of listening and learning, and we look forward to this year’s conference in December.
This fall, GVRC members also attended the 2025 American Society of Criminology (ASC) Conference in Washington, DC, with post-docs Sultan Altriki and Devon Ziminski giving oral presentations on recent projects related to community violence intervention and police diversion in New Jersey. Doctoral student Brielle Savage won the prestigious Ruth D. Peterson Fellowship for Racial and Ethnic Diversity.
In addition, Our team attended the JAMA Summit also in Washington, D.C., to learn about the latest trends and new directions for the field; and research Assistant, Kati Tanguy presented some of her recent work on the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
We had a rewarding fall attending multiple conferences, enjoying the chance to share our research, connect with colleagues, and learn from others!
Looking Ahead
As we begin the new year, we’re excited to continue ongoing projects and begin new collaborations. We’re excited to begin a recently awarded grant from the Fund for A Safer Future. Led by Allie Bond, this project will examine the effectiveness of the Firearm Life Plan in helping older adults plan for firearm access as they age. Additionally, a Stoneleigh Fellowship project focused on gun violence exposure and mental health among Philadelphia youth will continue to progress in 2026 under the leadership of Dan Semenza.
With our 2025 GVRC Progress Report released in the fall, we look forward to deepening our research focus, increasing collaborations across New Jersey and beyond, and creating more ways to share our work across communities through various events and platforms. We’d love to connect – get in touch with the GVRC at our website or reach out to njgvrc@sph.rutgers.edu.