The National Institutes of Health (NIH), under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is seeking proposals for the development of alcohol-activated locking systems for firearms and firearm storage units. This initiative aims to create devices that prevent firearm activation and access when an individual's blood alcohol level exceeds a specified limit, addressing the significant public health issue of firearm-related injuries and deaths, particularly those linked to alcohol use disorder. The program anticipates awarding 1-2 contracts, with funding available up to $400,000 for Phase I (12 months) and up to $2,000,000 for Phase II (2 years), with proposals due by October 18, 2024. Interested parties can find more information and submit proposals through the provided links.

Fast-Track proposals will be accepted. Direct-to-Phase II proposals will be accepted. Only Direct-to-Phase II and Fast-Track proposals will be accepted. Phase I proposals will NOT be accepted. Number of anticipated awards: 1-2 Budget (total costs, per award): Phase I: up to $400,000 for up to 12 months Phase II: up to $2,000,000 for up to 2 years PROPOSALS THAT EXCEED THE BUDGET OR PROJECT DURATION LISTED ABOVE MAY NOT BE FUNDED. Summary Firearm injury caused 45,222 deaths in the U.S. in 2020; nearly 54% of these were suicides. The U.S. suicide rate by firearm has increased by 19% over the past decade, while rates of suicide by firearm increased by approximately 15% among youths and young adults between 2019 and 2020.  Moreover, the firearm homicide rate increased 33.4% between 2019 and ’20, and firearm-related injury was the leading cause of death for U.S. youth aged 1–19. In addition to deaths, many more Americans experience nonfatal firearm injuries that substantially impact their lives. While suicide is famously multiply determined, it is difficult to overlook the outsized role of alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnosis and heavy alcohol use in suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). For instance, in a study of all U.S. Veterans Health Administration users in 2005-6, an AUD diagnosis was associated with a hazard ratio for death by suicide of 2.21 (2.06, 2.38) in men and 3.73 (2.48, 5.62) in women after controlling for demographic factors and co-occurring psychopathology. Furthermore, acute use of alcohol has been identified as a potent near-term risk factor for suicidal behavior, as some research suggests that it is correlated with increases in subsequent-hour intensity of suicidal ideation across the 24 hours prior to a medically-attended attempt. Comparisons of those who died by suicide versus other means drawn from the US National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) indicate that, even after controlling for relevant demographic and clinical factors, having detectable alcohol in the system at the time of death was associated with a 1.83 (1.73-1.93) fold increase in suicide risk for men and a 2.40 (2.24-2.57) fold increase for women. In another study using data from the NVDRS on suicide decedents aged 18 years or older with a positive blood alcohol concentration, the probability of a firearm-involved suicide increased as blood alcohol concentration increased until the blood alcohol level reached approximately 0.40 g/dL for male decedents and approximately 0.30 g/dL for female decedents, at which point the probability started to decrease. As a known disinhibitor, alcohol can be part of a lethal mix when consumed in proximity to unstored and/or unlocked firearms. The obvious difficulty involved in intervening in an impulsive, alcohol-related suicide attempt in real time suggests the benefits of an alcohol sensor device for a firearm that can be shown to be efficacious in preventing firearm activation by an individual with a detectable blood alcohol level above an established limit (e.g., DWI, DUI).   Similarly, such a device might enhance the safe storage of firearms. Some research indicates that firearms owners prefer that their firearms remain loaded and unlocked at home, as personal protection is often their main reason for owning a firearm. Indeed, the CDC and VA have endorsed several firearms safety technologies, including lock boxes, gun cases, and gun safes, but gun locks and safes can be opened by individuals under the influence of alcohol, thus making it possible for a firearm to be accessed by an individual in a state of impaired decision making. Hence, this Announcement also seeks proposals for the development of firearm storage spaces—such as lock boxes and gun safes— that cannot be accessed when sensors on the storage unit detect that the individual’s blood alcohol level exceeds an established acceptable limit. This call for proposals follows a number of recent NIH efforts aimed at stimulating public health-oriented research focused on the reduction of firearms violence. Indeed, although NIH has supported violence research for decades, growing attention on the public health impact of firearm violence has led to a significant increase in investment in recent years. The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 provided $12.5 million to the NIH each year in support of research on firearm injury and mortality prevention by taking a comprehensive approach to studying the underlying causes and evidence-based methods of firearm injury prevention. Spending bill language in these Acts stipulated that the funded research must be ideologically and politically unbiased and that funds could not be used to advocate or promote gun control. Subsequently, NIH released two FOAs per year in 2020 and 2021 for the purpose of building upon NIH’s existing violence research portfolio and to address emerging areas in violence research. These FOAs solicited applications proposing research to improve understanding of the determinants of firearm injury, identification of those at risk of firearm injury, and the development and evaluation of innovative interventions to prevent firearm injury and mortality. In response to these FOAs, NIH supported 9 awards in 2020 and 10 awards in 2021 for firearm violence prevention research.

Alcohol-activated locking systems for firearms and firearm storage units

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