2025 Pilot Award

The application window has closed –  Please check back in the Fall for information on the 2026 Pilot Award Request for Applications.

Firearm injury represents a significant societal concern in the United States, with rates of firearm-related injuries and deaths continuing to rise. Addressing this critical issue requires innovative, multidisciplinary approaches that leverage the diverse expertise across the University of Michigan. 

Purpose

The Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention  is excited to announce a request for applications for pilot projects inviting scholars from all across the University of Michigan campus to propose transformative solutions to reducing firearm injuries in the U.S. Eligible applicants are research, clinical, and tenure track faculty from any school, college, or institute on the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus.

The Institute pilot awards seek to build capacity and catalyze impactful scholarship by funding 2-5 projects in 2025. These short-term projects, ranging from 3-months to 1-year will be funded between $10,000 – $50,000 per award and granted to proposals with the greatest potential to advance our understanding of firearm-related harms and their prevention. Strong consideration will be given to innovative projects that promise a significant return on investment. Applicants may be invited to attend a meeting with Institute leadership to finalize the funding of the proposal. Applicants will be asked to provide a final report within 60 days of project end that describes findings, products, and next steps.

We encourage proposals that span a variety of scholarly activities, including but not limited to: 

  • Pilot support for external funding grant submissions.
  • Support for writing books, book chapters or other scholarly documents.
  • Support for policy brief or white paper research and writing.
  • Summer salary or student support for firearm injury related projects.
  • Creative and artistic practices.
  • Integrating a firearm analysis into ongoing projects.
  • Support for prototyping innovative technologies.
  • Community engaged partnerships.

About IFIP

Launched as a University of Michigan Presidential Initiative in 2019 and a University-wide Institute in 2021, the U-M Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention engages the breadth of expertise across U-M, with input from nonacademic stakeholders, to generate knowledge and advance solutions that will decrease firearm injury across the United States – while respecting the rights of responsible, law-abiding firearm owners. In order to accomplish this mission, the U-M Institute of Firearm Injury Prevention:

    • Generates actionable research to reduce and prevent firearm injury and death
    • Develops innovative evidence-based programs and scholarship
    • Collaborates with communities most affected by firearm injury
    • Catalogs and mobilizes relevant data to inform new solutions
    • Evaluates new and existing policy solutions