Research Opportunity Announcements

To increase awareness of ongoing mental health research, NAMI National creates “Research Opportunity Announcements” to ensure our grassroots leaders are aware of both clinical trials and social sciences research relevant to the mental health community. Promoted research may be conducted by government, academic or private industry partners, or any other entity that has secured IRB approval/exemption for their study. 

Researchers who have secured IRB approval/exemption for their studies may submit an application requesting a partnership with NAMI.

As we take our role in sharing this information very seriously, all studies selected for promotion have been thoroughly reviewed to ensure the safety of those involved. If you have any questions about Research Opportunity Announcements or a study that has been shared by NAMI, please contact us at research@nami.org.

New This Month​

Survey Study: Individual and Caregiver Experiences with Schizophrenia 

• This study is an online survey of individuals with schizophrenia and caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia to better understand experiences and needs related to care and daily life. The survey will take 20-25 minutes to complete. Participants will have the option to provide their name and email address to receive a $30 Amazon gift card for completing the survey. All responses will be analyzed anonymously. The goal of this study is to develop educational resources and other information for individuals affected by schizophrenia. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement. 

Clinical Trial: Juniper Study

• The Juniper study is a clinical trial to test the safety, efficacy and tolerability of centanafadine to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults who have not responded to other treatment options. The study is currently seeking participants across the United States. For more information, please see the NAMI Research Opportunity Announcement and study poster. 

Current Opportunities 

Survey Study: Tardive Dyskinesia Educational Intervention

• This study is an assessment of a new educational tool for individuals who may be at risk for developing tardive dyskinesia and their family members/caregivers. Participants will be asked to complete a brief online educational module, followed by a survey about what they learned and how they may choose to use this knowledge in the future. Total participation time is approximately 15 minutes. Participants who complete the survey will receive $10 compensation in the form of a digital gift card. Participants will also be asked to complete surveys 6 months and 12 months after completing the educational module to determine if they have chosen to take any action as a result of what they learned (for example, speaking to a doctor or seeking treatment for tardive dyskinesia). Additional compensation will be provided for each follow-up survey completed ($10 per survey). To learn more, see the NAMI Research Announcement. 

Clinical Trial: Healthy Lifestyles for Bipolar Disorder

• This is a clinical trial for adults with bipolar disorder who experience issues with sleep or daily routines to test whether two forms of eating - Time Restricted Eating (TRE) and following a Mediterranean diet - can help improve symptoms and quality of life. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to follow either TRE or the Mediterranean diet for 8 weeks and complete up to 25 hours of assessments. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyer. 

Survey Study: National OCD Survey

• The National OCD Survey is a brief, anonymous survey for individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to understand factors that affect the development, presentation, and maintenance of OCD. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyer.

Survey Study: Understanding Suicide Loss and Bereavement Processes Among Student Populations

• This is an anonymous, online survey for students currently attending an institution of higher education who are survivors of suicide loss, designed to understand factors that influence the bereavement process among students. Participation involves completing a one-time 20-30-minute survey. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyer.

Survey Study: Testing a Decision Aid for Working Parents of Children with Mental Health Disabilities

• This is a study to test the usability of myChoice, a web-based decision aid to help working parents and caregivers of children with mental health disabilities determine if and how to disclose a child's mental health status to their employer. Participation involves a one-time 60–90-minute feedback session to review the readability and comprehension of the myChoice application. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyer.

Clinical Trial: Investigational Medication for Depression

• This study is a clinical research trial of an investigational medication (study medicine) for depression that is designed to work differently than currently available antidepressants. The trial will determine if the study medicine is safe and effective for improving symptoms of depression, including anhedonia, which is having less interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the once-daily, oral study medicine or placebo over the course of 6 weeks. Total participation time is up to 16 weeks. If participants complete the treatment period, they may have the option to participate in a year-long study where all participants receive the study medicine. Reimbursement for study-related expenses and other compensation may be available. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement, study brochure and study flyer. 

Survey Study: Self-Advocacy for Students with Mental Health Diagnosis in Higher Education

• This is a virtual interview study to understand the role of self-advocacy for students with both a mental health condition and a disability. Participation involves completing an eligibility screening, pre-interview questions, a 60-minute virtual interview with the researcher, and post-interview reflection questions. Total participation time is 105 minutes. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyer.

Clinical Trial: Add-On Medication for Major Depressive Disorder

• This study is a clinical research trial of an investigational medication for people with depression whose current antidepressant is not fully managing their symptoms. The trial will determine if the investigational medication is safe and effective for reducing depression symptoms. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive the investigational medication or placebo, once a day, by mouth, for 28 days. All participants will continue taking their current antidepressant throughout the study. Total participation time is up to 10 weeks. Participants may be reimbursed for time and travel. To learn more, see the NAMI Research Announcement, study brochure and study flyer. 

Clinical Trial: Testing Different Doses of a Medication to Treat Major Depressive Disorder as Supplemental Treatment

• This study is a phase 2 clinical trial to test the safety and efficacy of different doses of the oral medication, BI 1569912, as an adjunct, or supplemental, treatment for individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) who are already taking an antidepressant but are still experiencing symptoms. Participants will continue their current medication and/or other therapy throughout the study. Participants will receive compensation for their time and travel. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyer.

Survey Study: South Asian American Healthcare and Access Survey (SAAHAS)

• SAAHAS is a brief, anonymous survey for people of South Asian origin living in the United States designed to understand factors that influence access to healthcare, aiming to ultimately increase awareness and access to health resources. Participation involves completing a one-time survey, which will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyer.

Clinical Trial: The CONVOKE Study: Mobile Applications to Help with Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

• This study is a clinical trial for individuals with schizophrenia who are experiencing moderate to severe negative symptoms to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two mobile applications (apps) as an adjunct treatment option. Negative symptoms can include difficulty with motivation or enjoying daily life. Total participation time is about 22 weeks, including a 2-week screening period, a 16-week treatment period in which participants will use one of the study apps every day, and a 4-week follow up period. Each participant will receive the study app and related support at no cost; reimbursement for participation and travel may be available. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement, study brochure, and study flyer. 

Clinical Trial: Peer Support via Virtual Reality: Cognitive Behavioral Immersion

• This study is a clinical trial for individuals with depression to test the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Immersion (CBI) as a potential option for mental health support. CBI is a cognitive behavioral skills training program delivered by trained peer coaches in a virtual group setting. After an initial prescreening, participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) CBI using a virtual reality (VR) headset, 2) CBI using a phone or computer, or 3) a control group. All participants will complete weekly surveys during the first 8 weeks, 1 post-group survey, and 6 monthly follow-up surveys, which will include questions about symptoms, quality of life, and social support. All participants, regardless of group assignment, will receive a free Meta Quest virtual reality headset and compensation up to $150. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study poster.

Survey Study: Disclosure of Traumatic Experiences

• This is an anonymous online survey study for individuals who have experienced trauma, aimed at understanding the impact of trauma disclosure on survivors’ posttraumatic growth and wellbeing. Participation involves completing an informed consent form, a brief screening questionnaire, a demographic form, and a survey including around 100 questions about experiences discussing trauma with others and wellbeing following trauma. Total participation time is 20-35 minutes. Participants may provide contact information if they choose to enter an optional cash-prize raffle. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study advertisement.

Survey Study: Serious Mental Health Conditions and Community Participation 

• This study is a survey for individuals with serious mental health conditions to understand the relationship between community participation and factors such as exposure to trauma, cognitive abilities, and experience of stigma. Participation involves an eligibility screening and a one-time virtual or in-person research interview focused on stigma, attention, memory, and the factors that affect community participation. The interview will take about 2 hours to complete. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyer.

Clinical Trial: Mobile App for Negative Schizophrenia Symptoms

• This study is a remote clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile application (app) to improve negative symptoms of schizophrenia, including struggles with motivation, socialization, apathy (lack of interest), or anhedonia (lack of enjoyment or pleasure). Participants will use the mobile app, answer questions about their thoughts and experiences, and participate in 3 remote study visits over video-conferencing lasting 2 ½ hours in total. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study ads.

Survey Study: Schizophrenia Home Video Feasibility Study

• This study is for individuals with schizophrenia or another psychosis spectrum condition who have access to home videos of themselves as children and are interested in providing them for analysis in a future research study. This is a feasibility study only, and is being used to determine whether there is enough interest from potential participants for the full study to take place. For the current study, participants will NOT provide any personal information or access to home videos to the research team. Based on responses to the current feasibility study, the full future study may or may not take place. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement.

Clinical Trial: Genomics of ECT

• This study is a clinical trial that investigates the genetic factors that contribute to major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder, and how genetic factors can contribute to patient response to Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). Participation involves a one-time collection of a blood or saliva sample (at a study site or using an at-home kit) along with consenting to access of medical records. Upon completion of the informed consent form and biospecimen collection, participants will receive compensation and reimbursement for transportation costs. The goal of this study is to learn whether we can predict, based on genetics, which individuals diagnosed with MDD, and bipolar disorder will respond well to ECT versus who will respond poorly or have adverse effects from ECT. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study ads.

Clinical Trial: ConnectionsRx

• This study is a randomized controlled trial for young adults (18-30 years old) with serious mental illness (SMI), designed to test the effectiveness of a distance-based intervention for improving community participation. The intervention includes 1-1 phone call or video meetings with a recreational therapist every other week and access to a moderated online peer support group for study participants. Participants will be randomized to either: 1) the intervention group or 2) the control group, which will receive self-directed information about community engagement without therapist or peer support. All participants will be involved in the study for about 6 months and complete 3 virtual, hour-long interviews about their experiences. Participants will receive a $30 gift card for each completed interview. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyer.

Clinical Research Study: EPICC (Engaging Parents, Increasing Connections with Children)

• This study is for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) who are interested in engaging in more meaningful activities with their children. Participants will be enrolled in a 10-week, distance-based intervention involving 1-1 phone call or video meetings with a recreational therapist every other week and a video support group with study participants every other week. Participants will be involved in the study for 20 weeks and complete 3 virtual, 90-minute interviews about their experiences. Participants will receive a $20 gift card for each completed interview. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyer.

Survey Study: Experiences of BIPOC Teens in the U.S.

• This study is an online survey designed to understand the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ adolescents of color. The researchers' goal is to learn more about how structural and everyday experiences of oppression affect substance use and mental health outcomes for adolescents ages 13-17 who identify as LGBTQ+ and POC. Total participation time is about 40-50 minutes, which includes a brief, online eligibility survey and, if eligible, a longer survey. Participants will be compensated $15 for completing the longer survey and may also have the option to enroll in a paid, longitudinal portion of the study. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement, Lavender Lab community announcement, and study ads. 

Clinical Trial: Medication for Treatment-Resistant Depression

• This study is a clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of an investigational drug, NV-5138, in adults with treatment-resistant depression. The study is currently seeking participants across the United States. For more information, please see the NAMI Research Opportunity Anouncement.  

Clinical Trial: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure that uses a magnet to activate specific areas of the brain. TMS may be used to address symptoms of various mental health conditions. This study is a clinical trial seeking to improve the speed and effectiveness of TMS to treat symptoms of psychosis. This study takes place at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, please see the NAMI Research Opportunity Announcement.

Survey Study: Ethics of Mental Health Mobile Applications

• This study is a confidential and anonymous online survey to gather adults’ views on the ethics (privacy and safety) of mental health apps. Mental health apps include mood trackers, therapy apps, mindfulness apps, etc. Participants will receive a $20 gift card for completing the survey. For more information, please see the NAMI Research Opportunity Announcement.

Clinical Trial: Investigational Medication for Schizophrenia (ARISE Study)

• This study is a clinical research trial for the investigational medication KarXT (combination xanomeline-trospium) to determine if the medication is safe and effective in treating symptoms of schizophrenia in combination with another antipsychotic medication. Individuals joining the study will receive compensation for their participation. The study is currently seeking participants across the United States. For more information, please see the NAMI Research Opportunity Announcement. 

 

Past Opportunities

Clinical Trial: Bolster App for Caregivers of Young Adults with Early Psychosis

• This study is a randomized controlled trial of Bolster, a mobile phone application (app) designed to support caregivers of young adults with early psychosis in accessing treatment for their loved one. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the Bolster app or a collection of existing online resources. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires about their attitudes, stress levels, experiences with caregiving, and their loved one’s engagement in treatment throughout the study. Total participation time is 12 weeks. Participants will receive $180 in Amazon gift cards for completing all study activities. Participants may be located anywhere in the United States. For more information, please see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyer. 

Clinical Trial: CBT Mobile App for Depression in Service Members and Veterans with mTBI

• This study is a remote clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) digital therapeutic in reducing symptoms of depression for Service Members and Veterans with a history of mild traumatic brain injury. Participants will be randomized to receive either the structured CBT-based mobile app or a comparison app that includes unstructured educational material about depression and brain injury. Total participation time is 30 minutes – 1 hour per week for 16 weeks. Participants will receive compensation for completing study requirements. The goal of this study is to increase effective, accessible treatment options for current and former Service Members and civilians with mental health needs. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyers here and here.

Survey Study: Disclosing a Child's Mental Health Condition to Your Employer

• This is a survey study for working parents and caregivers of children with mental health disabilities to understand the difficulties associated with disclosing a child's mental health status to an employer. The results of this study will inform the development of resources for working parents to help decide when and how to disclose their children's disability-related care demands to supervisors. Participants may complete a virtual, 30-40-minute individual interview or a 20-minute online survey, both focused on the factors that impact the decision to disclose a child’s mental health status to an employer. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study flyer.

Clinical Trial: Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia

• This study is a clinical research trial for the investigational drug, BI 425809. This trial will determine if the investigational drug is safe and effective for improving cognition in individuals with schizophrenia. Study participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the investigational drug or placebo in addition to their current schizophrenia medications. There are multiple study site locations across the United States. For more information, please see the NAMI Research Opportunity Announcement and study flyer.

Survey Study: Caregiver Perceptions of Schizophrenia Treatments

• This study is a survey for caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia designed to learn about caregiver perceptions of schizophrenia treatments and treatment outcomes. Participation involves a one-time 60–90-minute phone interview with the researcher that will include questions about caregiver and care recipient demographics, social support interventions, medications, alternative interventions, and desired treatment outcomes. For more information, see the NAMI Research Announcement and study advertisement.