Webinar | Navigating IRBs in Firearm Violence Research: What You Need to Know
The Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education invites you to the second webinar in a series designed to build the capacity, confidence and visibility of researchers and practitioners working to prevent firearm-related violence.
Doing research that engages or interacts directly with people (“human subjects research”) involves working with an institutional review board (IRB). IRBs help to support responsible clinical and behavioral research by protecting the rights and welfare of participants. Join our experts in this session to learn about when and why an IRB is needed; IRB processes, requirements, and timelines; how IRBs can facilitate or hinder equity in research, and unique considerations for working with an IRB when doing firearm injury research and community-based work.
About the Webinar Series: This event is part of a webinar series for researchers, community-based organizations, and other leaders in firearm violence prevention. Designed to strengthen the capacity, confidence, and visibility of those advancing solutions to prevent firearm-related violence, the program will feature sessions on:
Date TBA | From Problem to Purpose: Choosing Research Questions That Drive Change in Firearm Violence Prevention
February 2026 | Built on Trust: Community Partnerships for Firearm Violence Prevention Research
April 2026 | It’s Not Just What You Do – It’s How You Do It: Implementation Science for Firearm Violence Prevention
June 2026 | Not Just a Report: Disseminating Firearm Violence Research for Impact
Panelists:
Stephanie Hawkins, PhD, is Vice President of Public Health Research & Social Policy at RTI International. With over two decades of experience, Dr. Hawkins is a nationally recognized research leader specializing in community violence prevention, optimal youth development and youth impacted by the legal system. She leads multidisciplinary teams dedicated to advancing system and policy innovation, engagement science, communication and media impact research. A proud graduate of Spelman College and Howard University, Dr. Hawkins is passionate about promoting health and safety for residents in marginalized communities. Her work is distinguished by culturally responsive evaluation, impactful program leadership, and a commitment to just outcomes for youth and families.
Neil Irvin is the Executive Director of MCSR, a global leader in mobilizing men to prevent gender-based violence. He created the award-winning Men of Strength (MOST) Club and helped launch Strong Moves, the largest primary prevention program for boys in the U.S. Under his leadership, MCSR has reached over 200 million people through initiatives like the Healthy Masculinity Action Project and ASK mobile platform. Neil has advised the U.S. Department of Defense, the DOJ, the Biden Foundation, the UN, and major sports leagues including the NBA, NFL, and MLB. He has consulted for The White House, CDC, and leading national organizations, and collaborated with corporations such as Verizon, Unilever, and Starbucks. A former adjunct professor, published author, and award-winning media producer, Neil is a nationally respected voice in violence prevention and healthy masculinity.