Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Research Institute (CAPRI): A National Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Research Mentorship Network

BACKROUND: NIMH and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have identified a critical shortage of child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) researchers—paradoxically as most mental illnesses are recognized as having developmental origins, with impact across the lifespan. CAP physician-scientists are a critical part of the multi-disciplinary research workforce (including PhDs from myriad disciplines) uniquely trained to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical translation. CAP physician-scientists are crucial to NIMH achieving its Strategic Objectives—and vital to making substantial public health impact by developing early detection, treatment, and prevention strategies that are effective, lasting, and resilience-promoting. We seek to establish the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Research Institute (CAPRI) a national research mentorship network (PAR-23-263) seated at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)—the national home of CAP physicians. CAPRI will address the shortage of CAP physician-scientists by: (1) recruiting overlapping cohorts of 12 CAP-trained/committed early career researcher “Scholars”; (2) providing a 2-year mentorship program, with (a) 3-day meeting at the AACAP Annual Meeting, (b) monthly web-based career development seminars, (c) quarterly Scholar and Mentor meetings, (d) home institution mentor integration; (3) shore up the CAP research pipeline by (a) reaching earlier via Short Course for 12 pre-contemplative CAPs not ready for a K-award and sustaining mentorship for Summer Medical Students, (b) enhancing retention via annual reunion & online community, and (c) reducing attrition by creating social-belonging communities among CAP researchers. Scholars will learn vital skills to begin and maintain a successful research career—scientific writing, communication and negotiation skills, time management, giving/receiving mentoring, project management, responsible conduct of research, and enhancing statistical knowledge and collaboration. Key Innovations: (1) exclusive CAP focus to build a sustainable network with common experience; (2) substantial subject-specific expertise and targeted Mentor-matching; (3) home institution mentor integration; (4) evidence-proven science of mentoring practices from established R25s, Center for Improvement of Mentored Experience in Research. Our primary outcome is Scholar submission of “K” career development awards. Secondary outcomes are Scholar and Pre-contemplator development as academic leaders by independent grant support, publications, presentations, academic promotion, mentorship, and scientific service—and medical students entering psychiatry residencies. CAPRI is significant because we directly address NIMH’s “Blueprint for Change: Research on Child/Adolescent Mental Health” and Institute of Medicine goals to bolster the CAP research workforce via tiered, targeted, and sustaining mentorship.