Methods Incubation Core

Northwestern University At Chicago, Evanston IL

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY — METHODS INCUBATION CORE (MIC) The objective of the proposed Mental Health, Earlier (MHE) ALACRITY Research Center is to reduce prevalence and burden of mental illness via earlier intervention within real-world health care delivery systems. The central methodological challenge is implementation of evidence-based mental health innovations that align with the needs and resources of community-based pediatric primary care systems and the communities they serve. The Center’s Methods Incubation Core (MIC) will facilitate innovation and test solutions to challenges to translation of evidence-based tools and preventive interventions promoting early mental health within community pediatric primary care systems. Objectives of the MHE Center will be realized through transdisciplinary methodologic integration grounded in implementation and prevention sciences, leveraging health information technology (HIT), via developmentally sensitive, pragmatic and scalable measurement tools. The MIC brings together experts in critical methodologic areas to perform two foundational functions for the MHE Center: (1) innovate and apply implementation science, HIT, and pragmatic measurement and analytic methods to improve implementation of evidence-based interventions to detect and prevent mental health problems at the earliest phase of the clinical sequence; and (2) provide integrated and consistent methodologic support across the Center’s Research Projects, the Signature Project, and the Pilot Projects. MIC Specific Aims: Aim 1: INNOVATE: Serve as a hub for cross-project methodologic synergies to advance the science of implementation in pediatric learning health systems. The MIC will be at the nexus of identifying, developing, and disseminating novel methods (e.g., Roll-Out Implementation Optimization (ROIO) design), while highlighting unique transdisciplinary advancements facilitated by the Center’s collaborative structure. Aim 2: SUPPORT: Ensure methodologic support for the Center’s research activities. The MIC is charged with ensuring that the Center and its Research Projects have excellent methodologic support to meet or exceed research and training aims. Methodologic support will integrate expertise in implementation and developmental psychopathology science theories, models, and frameworks; human-centered design; and measurement science. The MIC serves as a transdisciplinary platform to dynamically coalesce around novel methodologic challenges to offer practical means of supporting and evaluating progress. Aim 3: ADVANCE RDoC APPLICATIONS: The MIC will lead testing, application, and extension of RDoC principles for testing prevention implementation and intervention mechanistic hypotheses in routine care. This will center on novel implementation strategies to advance mental health promotion and mediators/moderators of a transdiagnostic intervention targeting irritability and self-regulation via parenting. The MIC will allocate methodologic expertise and resources to address emerging/anticipated challenges and opportunities effectively and efficiently.