Researchers at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will join for a two-year study on how American Muslims address messages of extremism in their communities, UNC-CH announced Thursday.

The study, which the Department of Justice is funding with $349,000, will examine Muslim communities in Buffalo, N.Y., Houston, Seattle and the Triangle.

"In light of the recent events in London and Glasgow, it is critically important to understand why widespread radicalization has not occurred in the United States and take steps to reinforce this trend," said David Schanzer, a visiting professor at Duke and adjunct professor at UNC, in a statement.