Preteen Suicide Risk and Protective Factors Data Coordinating Center

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Suicide is a leading cause of death among youth ages 8–12 years, and rates of suicide in children are increasing. Alarmingly, suicide increased 87% among youth ages 10–14 from 2000 to 2021 and 49% among those ages 15–24. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will support a Consortium of six research projects and a data coordinating center (DCC) to improve understanding of risk and protective factors related to preteen suicidal thoughts and behaviors for a range of youth. We recognize that this important and complex endeavor requires exceptional coordination across a range of activities inherent to a multi-site Consortium as well as expertise in data harmonization, integration, and a multidisciplinary lens. RTI proposes to serve as the DCC for this Consortium of investigators. In this capacity, RTI will facilitate data coordination by assisting the Consortium in developing common measures and metrics and in establishing common data formats, data structure, and data-sharing processes (Aim 1). RTI will also facilitate scheduled data monitoring and analysis as well as dissemination of Consortium results (Aim 2). RTI will promote research efficiency and foster collaboration by establishing a centralized structure for scientific, administrative, and logistical operations (Aim 3). Finally, RTI will maximize the scientific impact of Consortium data by facilitating data sharing and developing best practice guidelines to optimize use of the data by the broader scientific community (Aim 4). Our DCC team will be led by a developmental psychopathologist with extensive data coordination experience, data integration and harmonization science. The broader team will comprise experienced leaders of multi-site studies and experts in consensus building, data harmonization, and preteen suicidal thoughts and behaviors for this age group. Core leaders, key staff, and consultants will bring robust data harmonization and data science approaches interwoven with a deep understanding of preteen suicide and suicide multidisciplinary science. We offer proven computational infrastructure and statistical expertise to support all the required data management and analysis needs for the Consortium. RTI will back this project with its unsurpassed experience and proficiency, born from successful leadership of over 40 other coordinating centers, to support and accomplish these aims. Collectively, we are well prepared to help NIMH and the Consortium to produce data and best practices for the research community studying preteen suicide risk and protective factors across developmental trajectories that are sensitive to all youth