New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center
@njgvrc.bsky.social
The GVRC aims to provide high-quality, multi-disciplinary research on gun violence causality and prevention while respecting the rights of legal, safe gun owners.
🚨#NJGVRC research on GLP-1 use and violent crime among U.S. adults was recently featured by @thetrace.org. "There is much more work to do, but the robustness and sturdiness of the impulsivity finding were striking to us." PI: @daniel-semenza.bsky.social.💡 🔗 www.thetrace.org/2026/08/ozem...
Taking Weight-Loss Drugs Could Help Reduce Violent Impulses
A recent study suggests GLP-1 drugs may weaken links between impulsivity, alcohol use, and violence.
thetrace.org
New GVRC Blog Alert! Our latest blog is live! Explore new insights from the GVRC and learn how our research is helping advance the conversation around gun violence prevention, public health, and evidence-based solutions. 🔗 Read the latest blog: https://ow.ly/Ugtl50Zu0AG
🚨 New paper from the #NJGVRC "Who Do Service Members and Veterans Tell? Patterns of Disclosing Suicidal Thoughts Prior to Firearm Suicide Death." PI: Allison Bond Read the full paper ➡️ https://ow.ly/FyOQ50ZlC2E
#RutgersSPH is excited to announce that Daniel Semenza has joined as an associate professor and as Director of Research for @njgvrc.bsky.social. He joins Rutgers with an extensive record of scholarship and leadership in firearm violence prevention. 🔗 Learn More: sph.rutgers.edu/news/daniel-...
Daniel Semenza Joins Rutgers School of Public Health and New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center
sph.rutgers.edu
🚨 New Publication from the #NJGVRC "Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Violent Crime Among US adults.” 📒Led by: #NJGVRC Director of Research, Daniel C. Semenza & Christopher Thomas 🔗 Learn more ➡️ https://ow.ly/aoXV50ZcLQX Visual details ⤵️
The #NJGVRC is committed to advancing research to inform effective prevention strategies, policies, and programs that reduce firearm-related harm and save lives. Research is a critical part of preventing gun violence. #NJGVRCFirearmSuicidePreventionTraining #GunViolenceAwarenessMonth
🚨New #NJGVRC blog alert! Titled: Gun Violence Awareness Month 2026: A Time for Reflection and Community Building the Future of the Field. ✅ Check out the details in this month's blog ➡️ https://gunviolenceresearchcenter.rutgers.edu/gvrc-blog
🧡 The #NJGVRC is committed to working with local, state, and national experts to research gun violence, identify contributing factors, and promote solutions, data, policies, and prevention strategies to reduce harm and build safer communities. Let's continue to work together!
🚨 #NJGVRC executive director, @mikeanestis.bsky.social is featured in the njspotlightnews.org discussing the latest #NJGVRC study, “Demographic and Clinical Shifts Among Firearm Suicide Decedents After the 2020 Purchasing Surge.” 📺 ➡️ youtu.be/N_VbO1IELU4?...
🚨 Check out the #NJGVRC Firearm Suicide Prevention Training video! Hear from fellows and the #NJGVRC executive director, @mikeanestis.bsky.social, as they share their takeaways from the training. gunviolenceresearchcenter.rutgers.edu/gvrc-videos
🚨 We’re Hiring! The #NJGVRC is seeking a Research Teaching Specialist to join our team. 📝 Apply here: https://ow.ly/53lL50YZ1eE
Congratulations to @mikeanestis.bsky.social, executive director of the #NJGVRC, on receiving the Board of Trustees Award for Excellence in Research and the New Jersey Health Foundation Excellence Award. Read more - 🔗 bit.ly/4tDX7WF 🔗 bit.ly/4uqpMz8
🚨 Check out the new #NJGVRC blog: Titled: Firearm Suicide Prevention Fellowship Training Day: Building the Future of the Field 🔗 https://ow.ly/Z79U50YVBS3
#NJGVRC director of research, @daniel-semenza.bsky.social said, "Even if you've never been shot, gun violence may still be hurting you.' In 📝@thetrace.org highlights a #NJGVRC paper that sums up their latest paper on gun violence exposure and chronic pain. Read the full article▶️ bit.ly/42NKGw9
Even If You've Never Been Shot, Gun Violence May Still Be Hurting You
Surviving a gunshot wound, losing a loved one to a shooting, or simply witnessing gun violence can leave people with chronic pain long after the event, according a new study by Rutgers University.
thetrace.org
🚨 New Publication from #NJGVRC “Community Violence Intervention (CVI) in a Semi-Rural Region” 📒Led by: Devon Zimiski, PhD, #NJGVRC postdoctoral fellow 🔗 Learn more ➡️ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08964289.2026.2653519 ✅ out the details in the visual ⤵️
🎓 #NJGVRC doctoral student spotlight: Meet Catherine Heitz. Take a moment to learn more about our new researcher and her research interests.
🚨New paper 📑 from the #NJGVRC PI: Catherine Heitz, #NJGVRC doctoral student, and colleagues studied how rural youth face higher rates of handgun carrying and increased risks of suicide, violence, and poor mental health. 📊 Learn more 🖇️https://ow.ly/rffZ50YR8Px Check out the visual for more details ⤵️
🚨 New #NJGVRC 📝 “Demographic and Clinical Shifts Among Firearm Suicide Decedents After the 2020 Purchasing Surge.” This 📝 examines demographics, suicide risk, and treatment-seeking among firearm suicide. 📒Led by: Allison Bond, PhD, #NJGVRC assistant professor 🔗 ow.ly/7iKT50YQKzq
🎤Hear from @mikeanestis.bsky.social talk about the #NJGVRC Firearm Suicide Prevention Training on April 24th. 🔫 Firearm suicide prevention focused 🔍 Diverse populations & innovative methods 📊 Risk, exposure & outcomes 💡 Panel discussions on funding 🤝 Networking with fellows & faculty
As firearm suicides rise, the #NJGVRC executive director @mikeanestis.bsky.social, and colleague work on fireaem prevention. “Firearm suicide makes up the majority of suicide deaths in the United States — but it gets very little attention,” said Anestis...📖⬇️💡 www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/03/as-f...
As firearm suicides rise, Rutgers fellows work on prevention | NJ Spotlight News
Team branching into tragic new trends among Black and Hispanic people, who are buying more guns and taking their lives at higher rates
njspotlightnews.org
📢 Meet the 2026 Firearm Suicide Prevention Fellows The GVRC is proud to introduce this year’s cohort. Through this one-day training, fellows will deepen their understanding of firearm suicide prevention research and connect with mentors and peers working to reduce firearm-related deaths.
Before I became a gun violence researcher, I mostly wanted to play rock ’n’ roll. I wrote a short piece for the @njgvrc.bsky.social blog about how I ended up studying violence prevention. You can read it here: gunviolenceresearchcenter.rutgers.edu/node/4190
#NJGVRC @daniel-semenza.bsky.social was interviewed by Ken Rosato from ONNJ. The interview focused on his recent paper titled: "Physical Health Challenges, Healthcare Needs, and Barriers to Care among Firearm Injury Survivors." 📚 Read 📄 ➡️ ow.ly/LXSU50Ycqv6 📺 Watch ➡️ bit.ly/408XDzx
Firearm Survivors Health - On New Jersey
We are joined now by Daniel Semenza, Director of Research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers University. Daniel and his team at Rutgers
onnj.com
#NJGVRC @alliebond.bsky.social and Devon Ziminski attended the 2026 Firearm Injury Prevention Research in Nursing (FIPRN) Scholars Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz (Feb 23–26). They learned from experts in firearm injury prevention, and more.Join us in congratulating 👏 Allie and Devon!
🆕 #NJGVRC Research 📊 What do firearm owners think about temporary, voluntary storage outside the home? Our study in @jamanetworkopen.com found that firearm owners are open to short-term storage with retailers or law enforcement... Read the full paper ▶️ 🔗 ow.ly/9eFp50Yl8xz
🆕 New on the GVRC Blog: Who’s Getting Help? Understanding mental health care use among firearm owners and what it means for prevention. 🔗 Read more: ow.ly/ujE450YhIpq
🚨New Paper Alert from #NJGVRC "Physical Health Challenges, Healthcare Needs, and Barriers to Care among Firearm Injury Survivors" #NJGVRC PI: @daniel-semenza.bsky.social 📚Read more here ➡️ ow.ly/LXSU50Ycqv6
#NJGVRC executive director, @mikeanestis.bsky.social, was quoted in a recent article by @TeamTrace. “I don’t want one out of four dollars going to one group of people...” Read the full article ⬇️ www.thetrace.org/2026/02/gun-...
After Trump's Cuts, Who's Going to Fund Gun Violence Prevention?
Congress is taking steps to stabilize research dollars, researchers are turning to private funders, and states are emerging as a critical backstop. But is it enough?
thetrace.org
🚨New Paper Alert from #NJGVRC "Changes in Firearm Intentions and Behaviors After the 2024 United States Presidential Election" PI: @mikeanestis.bsky.social Co-PIs:@alliebond.bsky.social, Kimberly C. Burke, Sultan Altikriti, @daniel-semenza.bsky.social 📚 the full 📑 ▶️https://bit.ly/3LXGjtO Learn⬇️
