Research Grants to Develop and Validate a Prognostic Tool of Mental Health Sequelae After Traumatic Brain Injury for Adolescent Patients (U01)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) is soliciting investigator-initiated research proposals to conduct a well-designed, longitudinal study within a large pediatric healthcare system(s) serving a diverse patient population, to derive and validate a new prognostic tool that identifies adolescents (ages 11-17 years) at increased risk for mental health sequelae or a worsening of an existing mental health condition(s). Of particular interest is research that focuses on adolescent populations shown to have higher rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI) incidence or greater risk of negative post-TBI outcomes (e.g., Black and Hispanic youth, youth living in rural areas, and those without insurance). The primary objectives of this NOFO are: Identification of risk/protective factors in the acute care setting that can predict new or worsening mental health sequelae within the three (3) months following a TBI among adolescents (ages 11-17 years Development of a new prognostic tool, based on empirically derived risk/protective factors, that can aid in predicting which adolescents in a clinical setting are more likely to subsequently develop mental health sequelae or experience a worsening of an existing mental health condition(s). Validation of the new empirically derived tool’s ability to accurately predict the development of mental health sequelae or experience a worsening of an existing mental health condition(s). Secondary Outcomes: Secondary outcomes for this project include publications and presentations describing results; new/modified recommendations for pediatric mTBI guideline(s); recommendations related to improving the feasibility of implementing the tool within a healthcare system; development and promotion of communication products related to the prognostic tool; potential development of a module/application based on the prognostic tool that is compatible and interoperable with multiple EHR vendors.