Funding Opportunities
ASPIRES funds small-scale, innovative, exploratory research to advance youth suicide prevention. Generating promising pilot data can enable researchers to apply for the funding necessary to conduct larger studies.
Practice-Based Research on Youth Suicide Prevention Pilot Program
Supported by P50 Center grant funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Center for Accelerating Suicide Prevention in Real-World Settings (ASPIRES) aims to accelerate the development and implementation of effective interventions to reduce suicide in children and adolescents. Jeff Bridge, PhD, director of the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research (CSPR) in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Cynthia Fontanella, PhD, a principal investigator in CSPR, lead ASPIRES and its investigators as co-directors.
The goal of the ASPIRES pilot program, Practice-Based Research on Youth Suicide Prevention, is to fund small-scale, innovative or exploratory clinical research focused on youth suicide prevention in practice settings. We encourage applications from researchers from underrepresented ethnic and racial backgrounds proposing research focused on understanding and preventing suicide.
Up to two projects will be funded each cycle. For each project, up to $50,000 in direct costs may be budgeted for a one-year project, with no carryover or extension permitted. Indirect costs are allowed at the awarded institution’s rate.
Applications are due by April 13, 2026.
The applicant/principal investigator must be affiliated with a university and/or a research institute but does not need to be from NCH or OSU. Applications from outside the US will not be accepted. Investigators from all academic disciplines are eligible to apply, and both basic science and applied research projects will be considered, provided that the proposed study has an essential focus on suicide or suicide prevention. Colleagues at other universities may be co-investigators.
Two applicant tracks are available:
- Early-Stage Investigators (e.g., tenure-, clinical- or research-track assistant professors, clinical scholars, postdoctoral fellows, medical residents, research fellows, research scientists)
- Established Investigators (i.e., tenure-, clinical-, or research-track associate or full professors).
Pilot grants for early-stage investigators are designed to facilitate guidance and supervision from an established mentor in a selected area of suicide research. Applicants on this track must select a mentor with expertise in suicide research. The mentor must have an academic rank of associate or full professor and an established record of suicide research and publication relevant to the researcher’s proposed study.
Project Requirements
All funded projects must have youth suicide prevention as their focus, and the target population must be youth and/or young adults. They must have the potential to generate academic publications, and priority will be given to projects with potential to develop pilot data that would lead to applications for extramural federal and foundation funding. If participants are to be recruited from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, approval prior to applying is necessary. Please contact Kendra Heck (Kendra.Heck@NationwideChildrens.org) for instructions and allow a month to receive approval.
A variety of project types are supported, including:
- Pilot or feasibility studies
- Secondary analyses of existing data
- Intervention studies
- Implementation Science studies
- Research methodology development (e.g., statistical innovations)
- Research technology development
- Resubmissions from previous application cycles
Consistent with a practice-based research approach, there is also emphasis on:
- Settings where youth suicide risk might be addressed.
- Health care systems (e.g., outpatient, inpatient, emergency department settings)
- Mental health or primary care practices
- Other systems or settings that serve individuals at risk for suicide (e.g., schools, the child welfare system, the juvenile justice system)
- Vulnerable populations.
- Individuals with mental illness or substance-use disorders
- Groups at elevated risk in terms of demographic characteristics or social/environmental history and context (e.g., early adversity, economic hardship, geographic locations), or developmental context
- Individuals who experience challenges/barriers in healthcare access, engagement or quality
Review
In June, applications will be sent to a minimum of two external reviewers with expertise in the subject matter to evaluate using the NIH-type nine-point scale. All applicants will receive brief, written reviews. Project start date will be August 1, 2026.
Applications are evaluated based on:
- Significance (i.e., project’s potential to contribute to scientific understanding of suicide and/or its prevention)
- Innovation
- Methodology
- Qualifications, experience and prior productivity of the applicant(s)
- Environment
Funds may be used for compensation for investigators or personnel (e.g., graduate student, clinical research coordinator), consultant fees, research supplies, or costs of measures, tests or procedures. Funds may also be used for travel required to conduct the research. Funds may not be used to pay university tuition costs.
ASPIRES Pilot Grant Program
Allowable Costs
- Compensation for Investigators and Personnel
- Indirect Costs
- Consultant Fees
- Research Supplies
- Cost for Measures, Tests, or Procedures
- Travel (for research purposes or conferences to present research)
- Participant Incentives
- Computers, Cell Phones, Audio
- Publication Costs
Non-Allowable Costs
- Office Equipment or Furniture
- Personnel Recruitment
- Tuition, IRB Fees, General IT Costs
Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval is necessary before the project can begin and before funds are released. All award recipients must submit a semi-annual and final progress report (within 90 days of project completion) documenting publications, presentations/posters and subsequent internal/external grant applications resulting from the funded project. Award recipients must present their project at the Annual ASPIRES Research Conference. All published work must include a statement indicating the work was supported by this award.
Jeffrey A. Bridge, PhD
Co-Director, ASPIRES
Director, Center for Suicide Prevention and Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Professor, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Phone: (614) 722-3589
Email: Jeff.Bridge@NationwideChildrens.org
Cynthia Fontanella, PhD
Co-Director, ASPIRES
Principal Investigator, Center for Suicide Prevention and Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Professor, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Phone: (614) 938-0323
Email: Cynthia.Fontanella@NationwideChildrens.org
Review Process
Submit your protocol to the Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health Research (IMBHR) Protocol Review Committee here: Grant Review Committee Submissions. Core members of the committee include Drs. Axelson, Butter, Fristad, Youngstrom, Annie Urbanek, Kim Jones and Ms. Aileen Hoffman. Based on the clinical setting(s) in which the study is proposed, the relevant clinic manager and/or medical director will be invited to join the review. Approval must be obtained prior to commencing the study. Give yourself sufficient time for this review (plan on one month). If you have questions regarding your study prior to submitting to the review committee please contact Kim Jones at Kim.Jones1@NationwideChildrens.org. If you have questions regarding the form, please reach out to Jacqui Pazaropoulos at Jacqueline.Pazaropoulos@NationwideChildrens.org.
Principal Investigator
Must be on NCH Medical Staff (Category 2) if the study involves clinical assessment or treatment within an NCH-BH site or have an MPI who is on the NCH Medical Staff.
If the PI is not an NCH Employee
Medical Staff privileges must be obtained prior to commencing the study (or the MPI must be on NCH Medical Staff). Note, this will take several months. Contact the person below to initiate the request:
Courtney Palermini
Medical Staff Services Specialist
Medical Staff Services
Phone: (614) 722-3171
Fax: (614)355–4433
The NCH-BH MPI must obtain Research Collaborator status, see link: Index (nationwidechildrens.org)
Clinical Trials
Study review: Contact John Psurny/Debbie Barrett-they will register your study with clinicaltrials.gov for you if required. JP will review all non-monitored clinical trials (investigator initiated) prior to commencing the study.
FDA Products-Drugs and Devices (Including apps): Contact Kevin Bosse, he will either exempt your protocol (likely for an app) or request the IND.
IRB
Must either be approved through NCH eIRB2 or through another institution to which NCH cedes review. Review the eIRB2 library (documents) to review relevant policies. Review the eIRB2 General tab to review the Investigator Manual.
EPIC Considerations
Ensure Visit Type is arranged: Contact Debby Molino/Gina McDowell to ensure the appropriate visit type is available.
Billing: either directly to the grant OR if staff have release time to cover study visits, no charge.
All assessment/treatment sessions for patients must be documented. You can create templates to block schedules for research visits and smartphrases for standardized research visits.
SPI INITIAL SMARTPHRASE
SPI new visit
Interim History
This is @FPREFNAME@ and family's first visit in the ASSIST trial. Pt presented to *** with concerns regarding suicidal ideation and concerns for ***. Pt was then referred to the clinic for crisis care and engagement in SPI+.
Intervention and Response
Evidence-based practice: Safety Planning Intervention with Structured Follow Up (SPI+)
Interventions provided today:
Met with Pt and caregiver to orient to SPI+ in the context of the ASSIST study, including structure of meetings and confidentiality. Pt and caregiver agreed to the goals laid out by this provider.
Met with Pt individually to elicit crisis narrative and develop a safety plan through psychoeducation. Completed safety plan can be found under the Media tab. Reviewed how to use safety plan and assisted Pt in identifying coping strategies, social supports, and crisis resources to utilize in case of crisis.
Met with Pt and caregiver to review the safety plan and potential barriers to using the safety plan. Reviewed how caregiver will support Pt in implementing the individualized safety plan over the coming week. Discussed steps that the caregiver will take to make Pt's environment safer, including ***. Clinician reviewed next steps for continued care and time of next scheduled session.
Met with caregiver alone to review any questions or concerns. Caregiver reported ***.
Assessment
Assessed for safety concerns since Pt was discharged from the hospital. Pt reported ***. Caregiver reported ***.
@SUICIDETOOLKIT@
Pt and caregivers would benefit from follow up visits to assess risk and use of the safety plan and promote connection to an outpatient mental health provider.
@BHMSE@
Plan
Pt has been referred to: ***
Status of referral: ***
Steps for Pt and caregiver to take: ***
Steps for Clinician to take: ***
Pt and caregiver will return to appointment in one week for further assessment and brief intervention.
Research visit - suicide assessed via study protocol. See Media tab for most recent suicide safety documentation.
SPI follow-up visits
Interim History
This is @FPREFNAME@ and caregiver's *** visit in the ASSIST trial. Caregiver reports ***. Pt reports ***.
Intervention and Response
Evidence-based practice: Safety Planning Intervention with Structured Follow Up (SPI+)
Met with caregiver to review any safety concerns and assess actions taken to make the home safe. Caregiver reported ***.
Met with Pt individually to check current mood. Pt reports their mood as a *** out of 10 (1=poor, 10=great), which is *** from last visit. Assessed for suicidal thoughts or behaviors since last visit. Pt reported ***. Reviewed Pt's safety plan. Pt reports that they *** used their safety plan since last visit. Assessed for whether changes are needed to Pt's safety plan. Pt reports ***.
Met with caregiver and Pt together to review next steps for Pt's care. Discussed status of Pt's referral for ongoing counseling services and potential barriers to treatment. Reviewed time of next scheduled session with this clinician.
Assessment
@SUICIDETOOLKIT@
Pt and caregivers would benefit from follow up visits to assess risk and use of the safety plan and promote connection to an outpatient mental health provider.
@BHMSE@
Plan
Pt has been referred to: ***
Status of referral: ***
Steps for Pt and caregiver to take: ***
Steps for Clinician to take: ***
Pt and caregiver will return to appointment in one week for further assessment and brief intervention.
Research visit - suicide assessed via study protocol. See Media tab for most recent suicide safety documentation.
The second annual ASPIRES Pilot Grant Program Summer Conference will be held in 2026. Registration details to come.
2025 Summer Conference Videos
- ASPIRES Center Pilot Grant Program - Introduction & Stephanie Gorka, PhD
- ASPIRES Center Pilot Grant Program - Heather Wastler, PhD
- ASPIRES Center Pilot Grant Program - Ginger Yang, PhD, MPH
- ASPIRES Center Pilot Grant Program - Jennifer Hughes, PhD
- ASPIRES Center Pilot Grant Program - Katherine Sarkisian, PhD
Using the RE-AIM Framework to Examine the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) Program for Suicide Prevention
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Hughes
The Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) Program, a classroom-based mental health promotion and suicide prevention program for adolescents (ages 14-16), has been found to help prevent severe suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Widespread use of YAM in United States schools has been limited, and studies are needed to better understand how to support schools in using YAM and other evidence-based suicide prevention programs. One approach to understanding these challenges and potential solutions is the RE-AIM framework, which includes the following five factors: Reach (how many students received YAM), Efficacy (what impact did YAM have on students’ mental health), Adoption (how many schools will use YAM upon hearing about it), Implementation (how can we best deliver YAM in schools), and Maintenance (how many schools will continue to use YAM over time). The current study will explore these RE-AIM factors through qualitative interviews and focus groups with key partners (e.g., adolescents, parents, school personnel) about their view of the YAM program. The study also includes a pilot program to deliver YAM in 12 Ohio classrooms to understand adolescents’ perspectives and experience with the program. Study findings will inform future plans to deliver YAM and other evidence-based suicide prevention programs in schools.
Feasibility Testing of a Self-Compassion Intervention for LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Prevention
Principal Investigator: Katherine Sarkisian
Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ youth often face extra sources of stress, like bullying and discrimination. Studies have shown that self-compassion may help with extra sources of stress like these. Self-compassion is being kind to ourselves, especially when we’re stressed. We will be testing whether adding a self-compassion plan to a suicide prevention safety plan can help LGBTQ+ youth cope with crisis situations and remember that they belong.
Feasibility Trial of a Single Session of Crisis Response Planning for Youth at High Risk for Suicide
Principal Investigator: Stephanie Gorka
Adolescents experience significant barriers to in-person suicide prevention treatment and prefer anonymity when disclosing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. There is untapped potential for virtual messaging services to engage high-risk youth who typically do not receive treatment but could significantly benefit. Thus, the primary goal of the proposed award is to adapt and pilot test a virtual chat-based suicide prevention intervention for high-risk adolescents.
Emotion Regulation and Suicidal Ideation among Adolescents and Young Adults at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis
Principal Investigator: Heather Wastler
Adolescents and young adults at clinical high risk for psychosis are at increased risk for suicide, though little is known about the mechanisms that contribute to this risk. The current study will address this gap by examining emotion regulation as a mechanism for suicidal ideation using a multimethod approach including clinical interviews, ecological momentary assessment, and objective measurement of autonomic activity (high-frequency heart rate variability). This work has the potential to advance the development of novel preventative interventions for this high-risk group.
Predicting Mental Health Sequelae Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Youth
Principal Investigators: Kristen Hoskinson and Ginger Yang
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and mental health are both significant public health problems disproportionately affecting youth, particularly those from disadvantaged populations whose access to care and resources are suboptimal. This pilot study aims to develop a clinically relevant prognostic tool, derived from electronic health record and Medicaid claims data, that can be used to accurately predict which youth with mTBI are at elevated risk for mental health sequelae. This tool can then be translated readily to clinical practice to facilitate the targeted delivery of early, individualized treatment to prevent mental health sequelae and reduce the risk of suicidal thoughts and suicide after mTBI.
