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OHSU Gun Violence Prevention Research Center

Serving as a credible, objective source of data for gun violence and its solutions in Oregon and contributing nationally to the science of firearm injury prevention.

About the OHSU Gun Violence Prevention Research Center

Oregon, like the rest of the nation, is experiencing the devastating effects of the gun violence epidemic. It claims the lives of young and old Oregonians every day and leaves injured survivors as well as families and communities profoundly impacted by the trauma. In 2021, 670 people in Oregon were killed by firearms, and an estimated 875 people were treated for firearm injuries in Oregon’s emergency rooms. Rates of firearm-related deaths that year were 28% higher than those in Washington, and 50% higher than those in California.

Gun violence affects all Oregonians, but in some communities that have experienced historic or present-day disinvestment, the impact is felt more intensely. This is particularly true in communities of color that have experienced high rates of firearm homicide and in rural communities that have experienced high rates of firearm suicide.

The OHSU Gun Violence Prevention Research Center applies the upstream prevention tools of Public Health to address the gun violence epidemic. The Public Health approach uses epidemiology and other scientific methods to measure health problems, identify risk and protective factors for those problems, develop interventions to reduce risk factors and/or increase protective factors, and evaluate the efficacy of those interventions (including costs, risks, benefits, and the unintended consequences to various communities, individual liberties, or people’s livelihoods). Dr. Kathleen Carlson, with her training and expertise in Public Health and injury epidemiology, directs a diverse, dedicated, and experienced team of researchers who are using established and innovative methodologies to generate the data to more fully describe and understand the burden and characteristics of intentional and unintentional firearm injury and death in Oregon and to identify effective solutions.

Foundational funding for the establishment of the Center was generously provided by the Silver Family Innovation Fund in 2022.

Research Activities

Learn more about our various research activities focused on firearm injury at the state and national levels.

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Educational Activities

Learn more about our various activities and projects related to educating students, clinicians, and others on firearm injury prevention.

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Resources

The Center creates resources, such as fact sheets and research briefs, based on our firearm injury research projects.

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CONTACT THE PREVENTION RESEARCH TEAM

Have questions or would like to get in contact?

Contact the OHSU Gun Violence Prevention Research Center with questions or requests about our ongoing gun violence prevention projects.

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The OHSU Gun Violence Prevention Research Center Carries on the Work of the Gun Violence as a Public Health Issue Initiative and Advisory Committee

In 2016, in the wake of the Pulse Night Club shooting, OHSU joined with Portland State University, the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, and community leaders and organizations across the Portland metro area to address gun violence as a public health issue and launch the Gun Violence as a Public Health Issue (GVPHI) Initiative. The GVPHI Advisory Committee was formed and charged with organizing three community forums to identify opportunities for collaboration.

A 2017 report describes the proceedings and results of the forums. The Advisory Committee has continued to meet since that initial year of work, launching a journal club, speakers’ bureau, and research initiatives that are ongoing today as part of the work of the OHSU Gun Violence Prevention Research Center.

As the Center carries on the activities of the GVPHI Initiative, the GVPHI Advisory Committee is transitioning into an advisory board for the Center. To learn more about the GVPHI Initiative and Advisory Committee history, go to the GVPHI Initiative and Advisory Committee webpage.

Media Requests

The media can reach out directly and contact our team following the OHSU Media Relations guidelines.

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Center Personnel

Meet our team and learn more about the individuals who are working to support The Centers mission.

Meet The Team

News Reports

Read the latest news reports about the Gun Violence Prevent Research Center and our ongoing work.

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