My Safety Steps: A digital tool to reduce firearm-related harm in intimate partner violence
Official title: Evaluating My Safety Steps: A Digital Intervention to Prevent Firearm-Related Harms in Intimate Partner Violence
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11424421 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A digital safety tool called My Safety Steps helps survivors of intimate partner violence reduce the risk of firearm harm from an abusive partner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 26, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $799,894 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NR021825-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11424421 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have experienced intimate partner violence and whose partner owns or has access to a firearm are eligible to participate.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without exposure to firearm-bearing partners or those not seeking safety planning may not benefit from this tool.
What this research studies
This project builds on a prior pilot that showed MySteps can be feasible and acceptable and may reduce a partner’s access to a gun. In a large randomized trial, survivors will use the MySteps app and be compared with usual care over 3- and 6-month follow-ups. The study will collect feedback from participants, providers, and IPV survivors to refine the tool and understand how it works in real life. The goal is to provide an evidence-based digital option that supports safety planning for people affected by firearm-related IPV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, MySteps could offer a scalable way to reduce firearm injuries and deaths among IPV survivors.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier pilots showed feasibility and preliminary efficacy, suggesting promise for larger trials.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sabri, Bushra — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Sabri, Bushra
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.