S.A.F.E. Firearm program to promote safer gun storage for adults and families
Official title: Scaling Out S.A.F.E. Firearm Across Two Health Systems As A Universal Suicide Prevention Strategy
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11260248 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project brings the S.A.F.E. Firearm program into adult primary care and women's health clinics to help adults and families store firearms more safely and lower suicide risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | January 16, 2025 |
| Project end | October 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $690,616 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH138333-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11260248 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Best candidates are adults seen in participating primary care or women's health clinics, especially those who own firearms or live with someone who does, and parents or grandparents who care for children in the home.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not receive care at participating clinics or who have no firearms in their household are less likely to receive direct benefit from this program.
What this research studies
You would encounter S.A.F.E. Firearm during routine visits in participating primary care or women's health clinics, where clinicians get brief training and electronic reminders to prompt conversations about safe firearm storage. The program uses clinician training, EHR-based prompts, and implementation support for clinics to make these conversations a regular part of care. The team previously delivered this program widely in pediatric clinics and is now expanding it to reach adults and family members who may live with firearms. Participation could include brief talking points from your clinician, take-home safety materials, and offers of storage planning.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower suicide risk by increasing safe firearm storage in homes and by reaching more adults and families through routine clinic care.
How similar studies have gone: A prior large trial (ASPIRE) successfully increased clinician delivery of S.A.F.E. Firearm from about 3% to 54% in pediatric clinics, and this study expands that proven implementation approach to adult settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beidas, Rinad Sary — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Beidas, Rinad Sary
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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.