Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Coordinating Center for Approaches to Identifying Preteen Suicide Risk and Protective Factors (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Key Dates

NOT-MH-23-335 - Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Approaches to Identifying Preteen Suicide Risk and Protective Factors (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to promote a new initiative by publishing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for a data coordinating center (DCC) in support of a research consortium of R01 foundational research projects (that will aim to refine and test valid methods for characterizing preteen suicide risk and protective factors across multiple domains, and for operationalizing suicidal thoughts and behavior (STBs) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among preteen youth (ages 8-12). Key DCC activities will include the coordination of data formatting and harmonization efforts across R01 Consortium sites to optimize sharing with the NIMH Data Archive (NDA), as well as coordinating data sharing timelines across R01 sites. Data combined by the DCC, and held within the NDA, will facilitate the harmonization of data related to risk and protective factors, NSSI, and STBs in preteen youth and promote analyses that leverage the power of combined cohorts.

This Notice of Intent to Publish (NOITP) is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects, and to consult with NIH to submit responsive applications.

The NOFO is expected to be published in Summer 2023, with an expected application due date in Fall 2023.

This NOFO will utilize the U24 activity code. Details of the planned NOFO are provided below.

Background

Suicide rates among youth in the United States are a significant public health concern. Youth and young adults ages 10 24 account for 14% of suicides. For youth ages 10-14, suicide is the second leading cause of death (see Disparities in Suicide). Although age-specific suicide rates for youth aged 10-14 are low relative to adults, suicide deaths in this age range tripled between 2007 and 2020, and girls aged 10-14 continued to have increasing rates during 2018-2020, a period when adult suicide deaths decreased (see Suicide Mortality in the United States, 2000-2020). In addition, trends in suicide death for children and adolescents show many of the same disparities for suicide deaths in other age groups. Sexual and gender minority, American Indian, and Alaska Native youth experience the highest rates of youth suicide (Disparities in Suicide). Moreover, the rate of suicide deaths over time has continued to trend upward for racial and ethnic minority youth, including those who identify as Black, Hispanic, Latine, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander.

To understand the concerning increases in suicide deaths among children and young adolescents and to understand why some groups are of greater risk, there is a clear need for preliminary work to refine approaches for sampling youth who are at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, including sub-populations who experience elevated risk or health disparities, for characterizing risk/protective factors across multiple domains, and for operationalizing STBs and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among preteen youth.

Scope and Objective

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is intented to support a data coordinating center (DCC) to facilitate collaborations across research projects funded under the companion NOFO, RFA-MH-24 -320.

The DCC is intended to conduct the following activities:

• Data Coordination. The DCC must have the ability to (1) lead efforts to collate and coordinate common measurement approaches and identify a candidate core assessment battery; (2)work with R01 Consortium and NDA to ensure that novel or harmonized metrics are consistent across sites; (3)ensure consistent formats of data to ensure integrity and interoperability in NDA; and (4)work with NDA to ensure access to harmonized datasets for researchers.
• Progress Monitoring, Data Analysis and Dissemination of Results. The DCC will be responsible for developing and coordinating a timeline with milestones that will indicate progress at critical junctures of the longitudinal study for the collection, submission, and interim analysis of data The DCC will also establish an approach that will be used to facilitate the development of a core assessment battery (comprised of core data elements that could potentially be used across projects and in future research), including the methodology that will be used to guide the harmonization of data and guidance regarding data analysis for the aggregated data.
• Administrative, Logistical, and Meeting Support. The DCC is expected to provide the infrastructure and expertise required for facilitating data collaborations across the research projects, facilitating resource and technology utilization across projects, synthesizing individual project results, and preparing public-use files for archiving and sharing results according to NIH policies. The DCC is also expected to support the organization of semi-annual virtual research investigators meetings, webinars, and recurring conference calls to allow the consortium investigators to discuss new or emerging research activities, challenges, and potential solutions. Availability of strong institutional infrastructure and resources that will enable cross-project data coordination efforts, including, but not limited to, planning and hosting virtual meetings, supporting the development of scientific webinars with project-affiliated investigators and outside experts (as needed), and facilitating resource sharing.
• Facilitate the Development and Dissemination of Best Practice Guidelines. The DCC is expected to coordinate data sharing between consortium sites and with the NDA to facilitate the consortium investigators' efforts at developing best-practice guidelines for use by the broader scientific community.

Leadership and Personnel Expertise

The PD/PI (or Multi-PDs/PIs) of the Coordinating Center should demonstrate leadership in data coordination in the context of trans-disciplinary research efforts, along with expertise in designing and implementing longitudinal studies relevant to the research projects. The team must have the experience to track progress and ensure the consistency of potential harmonized measures across independent research sites.

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with NIMH program staff when developing plans for an application.

Funding Information

Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education
Private Institution of Higher Education
Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
Small Business
For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business)
State Government
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)
County governments
Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization (Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
U.S. Territory or Possession
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized)
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entity (Foreign Organization)
Regional Organization
Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government

Applications are not being solicited at this time.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Eric R. Murphy, Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-443-9230
Email:eric.murphy@nih.gov