Key Dates
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
The National Institute of Mental Health intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for an Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET) National Data Coordinating Center (ENDCC). The ENDCC will develop infrastructure to facilitate large-scale, practice-oriented research across clinics offering evidence-based Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) to persons experiencing a first episode of psychosis. This NOFO focuses on research tools and resources directed at (1) optimizing the EPINET Core Assessment Battery (CAB) to support learning health care studies within and across CSC research networks; (2) adapting and implementing the CAB for use in publicly funded CSC programs that aspire to measurement-based care; (3) optimizing the informatics infrastructure and pipelines necessary to gather, store, and upload de-identified, person-level data collected across participating EPINET research networks to the NIMH Data Archive (NDA); and (4) assembling individual network datasets into a national repository of early psychosis clinical features, interventions, and treatment outcomes to be shared with qualified investigators via the NDA. In addition, the ENDCC will provide operational and technical support to the EPINET Research Consortium to promote sharing of methods among research networks.
This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects.
The NOFO is expected to be published in Fall 2023 with an expected application due date in Spring 2024
This NOFO will utilize the U24 activity code. Details of the planned NOFO are provided below.
Background
In 2019, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) established the Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET) to advance learning health methods in treatment programs that offer evidence-based Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) to persons in the early stages of psychotic illness. EPINET scientific hubs and a national data coordinating center have established infrastructure to support data sharing and program evaluation and quality improvement activities across connected CSC programs, along with embedded research projects aimed at advancing knowledge about first episode psychosis populations, interventions, and recovery outcomes.
This initiative, along with the companion Notice, NOT-MH-23-295, will continue NIMH support for practice-oriented, learning health care research that aims to improve early identification, clinical assessment, intervention effectiveness, service delivery, and long-term outcomes for youth and young adults experiencing an initial episode of psychosis.
Research Objectives
The EPINET National Data Coordinating Center (ENDCC) is intended to conduct the following activities in support of projects funded under the companion Notice, NOT-MH-23-295:
Research Team Expertise
It is expected that a PD/PI (or multiple PD/PIs) of the data coordinating center will have a strong track record, including peer-reviewed research publications and independent funding support, as well as a strong record of successful leadership of multi-site clinical research studies, including success in meeting project milestones and timelines. ENDCC team members are expected to have expertise and experience in bioinformatics and data processing appropriate for establishing and carrying out proposed methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing clinical practice data of various types.
This NOFO requires a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP) as described in NOT-MH-21-310.
Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with NIMH program staff when developing plans for an application.
Funding Information
TBD
1
Application budgets are limited to no more than $1,000,000 direct costs per year
93.292
Applications are not being solicited at this time.
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Robert K. Heinssen, Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-435-0371
Email: rheinsse@mail.nih.gov