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Transforming the understanding
and treatment of mental illnesses.

NAMHC Minutes of the 257th Meeting

September 19, 2019

Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
National Institutes of Health
National Advisory Mental Health Council

Introduction

The National Advisory Mental Health Council (NAMHC) held its 257th meeting at 9:00 am, September 19, 2019 at the Neuroscience Center in Rockville, Maryland. In accordance with Public Law 92-463, the session was open to the public until approximately 1:30 pm, and closed thereafter from 2:30 pm for consideration of grant applications. Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), presided as Chair.

Chairperson

Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.

Executive Secretary

Jean Noronha, Ph.D.

Council Members Present

  • Laura Almasy, Ph.D.
  • Marjorie Baldwin, Ph.D.
  • Tami Benton, M.D.
  • Randy Blakely, Ph.D.
  • Ian Gotlib, Ph.D.
  • Lisa Jaycox, Ph.D.
  • Cheryl King, Ph.D.
  • John Krystal, M.D.
  • Gregory Miller, Ph.D.
  • Neil Risch, Ph.D.
  • Rhonda Robertson Beale, M.D.
  • Elyn Saks, Ph.D.
  • Brandon Staglin, M.S.
  • Sophia Vinogradov, M.D.
  • Christopher Walsh, M.D.

Department of Veteran Affairs

  • Amy Kilbourne, M.D., Ph.D.

Department of Defense (Ex Officio Member)

  • Captain Michael Colston, M.D.

Liaison Representative

  • Anita Everett, M.D.

Others Present at the Open Policy Session (Others Roster)

Council Members (Appendix B, Council Roster )

Open Policy Session Call to Order & Opening Remarks

Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.

NIMH Director, Dr. Joshua Gordon, opened the NAMHC meeting by welcoming Current Council Members, and the public. Dr. Gordon welcomed a new ex-officio member, Captain Michael Colston from the Department of Defense Health Services and Policy office. Following introductions, the Council unanimously passed a motion approving the final Summary Minutes of the May 30, 2019 meeting.

NIMH Director’s Report

Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.

Legislative Updates

Dr. Gordon updated participants and attendees on recent NIMH congressional activities. In June, NIMH hosted a staff delegation from the Mental Health Caucus , and, in July, Dr. Gordon and directors from other National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes and Centers (ICs) met with two Senate Appropriation Clerks. In September, the Freshmen Working Group on Addiction visited NIH to meet with NIH Director Dr. Collins and tour select labs. The delegation of members and staff engaged in discussion with Institute directors, including Dr. Gordon, and received a demonstration of transcranial magnet stimulation (TMS) at Dr. Sarah Lisanby’s lab. Additionally, the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee toured the NIH Clinical Center and reviewed research efforts related to the antidepressant effects of ketamine. Other NIMH staff continue to brief members of Congress on topics including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN ) Initiative®, the opioid crisis, and child mental health.

NIMH also remains engaged with stakeholder groups. In June, the NIMH director and deputy director met with the Mental Health Liaison Group. Dr. Gordon also participated in the 2019 Mental Health of America Annual Conference  on “Dueling Diagnoses” in June, and the NIMH Outreach Partnership Program (OPP) in July. Dr. Gordon explained that the OPP will no longer hold annual conferences, opting instead to open up outreach activities to conferences hosted by constituencies.

NIH/NIMH Budget

Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019  raised discretionary spending limits for 2020 and 2021. Dr. Gordon explained that because this budget agreement extends to the end of the sequester, which was set to end in 2021, NIMH will not be affected by the sequester unless it is renewed. The House also passed a series of budget bills, including a minibus package that would increase NIH funding by $2 billion. The Senate Appropriations Committee released its own draft version of the bill that would increase NIH funding by $3 billion with $200 million set aside for NIMH. Dr. Gordon hopes that the House and Senate will compromise to pass a bill for 2020.

NIMH has received four consecutive years of budget increases, allowing for an increase in the success rate for investigator-initiated grants. As a result, NIMH anticipates that grant funding will have a success rate of approximately 26 percent. A large number of awards are also being made through the BRAIN  Initiative 21st Century Cures funds.

Dr. Gordon presented an updated portfolio analysis and funding trends through fiscal year 2018. First, he reviewed the funding by Division and Office. The bulk of extramural NIMH funds are spent through the Division of Translational Research (DTR) and the Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Sciences (DNBBS). While funds for the Division of Services and Intervention Research (DSIR) have been relatively steady over the last few years, funds for DNBBS have been trending upwards and funds for DTR have been trending slightly downwards. Dr. Gordon explained that these trends are caused by a shift in spending allocation for genetics funding, which was previously administered through the Office of Genome Research Coordination. When administration of genetics funding was moved to DNBBS, the funding distribution changed.

Dr. Gordon also reviewed NIMH funding by research area. Disease-related basic research, such as new treatment protocols, animal models, device improvement, and early-stage translation, makes up approximately 40% of funded research. Similarly, about 45% of the funds are allocated to therapeutics development and services. Although spending in this area decreased in recent years, funding for therapeutics development and services has returned levels typically observed in the past. This is largely due to an increase in Requests for Application (RFAs). Basic, non-disease-focused neuroscience research remains a slowly increasing minority of NIMH’s budget. NIMH funds for clinical trials continue to represent about 11% of the overall budget.

Priorities and Updates

Dr. Gordon reviewed changes to the OPP, a program that united affiliate organizations across the country to conduct outreach and dissemination activities. After a year of deliberation and planning, NIMH has decided to end OPP in April 2020 and replace it with more widely available resources and outreach efforts that target a more diverse array of organizations. These include a new education and awareness portal through the NIMH website and a public e-newsletter called Discover NIMH. NIMH will continue to provide stakeholders access to NIMH scientific information and the kind of patient education materials that had been provided to these groups.

Motivated by a 2018 report  from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine about the prevalence of harassment against women and other minorities in the science workforce, the NIH has implemented an anti-harassment policy  and personal relationship policy . NIMH offers targeted training to staff and supervisors, who are now required to report all suspected incidents of harassment to the NIH Civil Program . NIMH has designated an institute official (Ann Huston) and an employee relations designee (Nicole Martino), both of whom can be contacted with concerns.

Finally, Dr. Collins, the Director of NIH, made a statement that he will no longer attend panels or meetings that are not sufficiently representative or inclusive. Dr. Gordon has joined Dr. Collins in this effort and will decline to participate in panels, workshops, and conferences that lack diverse representation. In recognition that diversity is key to scientific excellence, NIMH is committed to changing the culture and climate of biomedical research to create an inclusive and diverse workforce. Dr. Gordon encouraged all members of the NIMH community to adopt a similar policy.

Dr. Gordon also reviewed the activities of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee  (IACC). In July, the IACC held a workshop  to address the housing needs of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The IACC is awaiting Senate renewal of the act that will reauthorize their activities. Each incarnation of the IACC requires reconstitution of the committee and subsequent member approval. NIMH anticipates the process of appointing new members and reassembling meetings will begin in the coming months.

NIMH Staff and Leadership News and Awards

NIH and NIMH are welcoming new leadership. NIMH is pleased to announce that Dr. Andrea Beckel-Mitchener, Ph.D. was selected as the Director of the NIMH Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity (ODWD), where she previously held the role of Acting Director. Dr. Beckel-Mitchener also serves as the Director of the Office of Rural Mental Health Research (ORMHR). NIH also welcomes Dr. Debara Tucci, who was appointed Director of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

Several leaders at NIH are retiring. Dr. Paul Sieving, the Director of the National Eye Institute, retired at the end of July. Dr. Ann Cashion, Acting Director of the National Institute of Nursing Research, retired in September. Additionally, Dr. Linda Birnbaum, Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, will retire in early October.

Dr. Gordon was saddened to announce the passing of two NIH colleagues: Dr. Donald Lindberg (Director of the National Library of Medicine) and Dr. Carl Bell (NAMHC member from 2008 to 2011 and professor of psychiatry and public health at the University of Illinois at Chicago). Both of these individuals were powerful leaders at NIH and NIMH, and they will be missed.

Policies, Progress, and Initiatives

The All of Us Research Program  was recently awarded a combined $9.1 million in funding to two organizations to further the Program’s extensive community engagement efforts. Dr. Eric Dishman will transition from Director of the All of Us Research Program to become the Program’s Chief Innovation Officer, though he will continue to run the Program while they search for a new Director.

Recently, a group of extramural investigators updated the BRAIN Initiative ’s initial strategic plan. They presented the update to the Advisory Council of the Director and are anticipating revisions and approval of the final versions in fall 2019. The BRAIN Initiative Neuroethics Working Group and the Multi-Council Working Group both met in August. Planning is already underway for a BRAIN Initiative investigator meeting, which will take place in June 2020.

The Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM (HEAL ), or NIH HEAL Initiative, addresses the opioid crisis. With support from the NIMH Division of Service Intervention Research, NIH has received applications for an initiative to manage dual-diagnosis individuals, opioid addiction, and mental health issues in primary care settings. A number of grants have already been awarded, including $155 million awarded to 12 grants through the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network . This multi-year innovation network will support infrastructure to improve the treatment of individuals with opioid use disorder in criminal justice settings.

Science Highlights

Dr. Gordon concluded his report by briefly reviewing NIMH-funded research efforts in the extramural community. NIMH-funded researchers used cutting-edge technology to target specific neurons and observe neuronal activity across layers of cortex. They demonstrated that there are cortical layer-specific dynamics that underlie perceptual experiences. Further, with support from the BRAIN Initiative, these investigators are developing novel holography technology that can stimulate light in four dimensions (including time) to record and play back neuronal activity.

Dr. Gordon also shared the work of NIMH-funded researchers who have developed a novel form of antiretroviral therapy (ART) that may be more effective at eliminating the virus in central nervous system (CNS) reservoirs. Their work has provided proof of concept that permanent viral elimination may be possible and has the potential to profoundly impact HIV treatment and the HIV epidemic.

Finally, Dr. Gordon highlighted efforts to develop universal early screening to identify individuals who will go on to receive a diagnosis of autism. NIMH-funded researchers examined the age at which providers are able to reliably diagnose autism. They studied autism phenotypes in toddlers over the age of 12 months to determine if features of the disorder are reliably and stably observed early in life. The researchers found that diagnosis becomes stable by 14 months of age, suggesting that there may be opportunities to test the impact of very early-age treatment of ASD.

[Expand All]

2020 NIMH Strategic Plan for Research

Julie L. Mason, Ph.D., Meredith Fox, Ph.D., and Joshua Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Julie Mason reviewed recent efforts to update the current NIMH Strategic Plan for Research. The 2020 Strategic Plan (SP2020) will remain a vision-level document with updates to reflect the current state of the science and the current research landscape. SP2020 will also incorporate the Strategic Research Priorities into the main plan. The new Plan will also maintain the existing structure with four main goals as previously described: 1) Define the mechanisms of complex behaviors; 2) Chart mental illness trajectories across the lifespan; 3) Strive for prevention and cures; and 4) Strengthen the public health impact of NIMH-related research.

Dr. Mason reviewed the current structure of the Plan. The Plan will include a Director’s Message, an overview of NIMH, and a description of how the Institute serves as an efficient and effective steward of public resources (including priority setting, rigor and reproducibility, portfolio management, accountability, and collaborations with stakeholders). A new section of the plan will address challenges and opportunities in mental health research, such as suicide prevention, mental health equity, digital health technology, genetics, and neural circuits. In addition, cross-cutting research themes will cover areas such as prevention, environmental influences, translation, and the research workforce.

Dr. Mason also reviewed the SP2020 dissemination plan. NIMH aims to reach a wide audience using a multipronged approach of press releases, listserv messages, social media, video clips, live events, and other awareness campaigns. The community will be proactively engaged by distributing materials and presentations at national meetings and conferences. These resources will also be shared through a new education and awareness portal, which will be available on the NIMH website.

Dr. Mason concluded by thanking Dr. Rachel Scheinert and Dr. Collene Lawhorn, who have been instrumental in developing the SP2020.

[Expand All]

Concept Clearances

Fine Mapping Genome-wide Associated Loci to Identify Causal Variants,

Alexander Arguello, Ph.D.
Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science

Dr. Alexander Arguello talked about the complexity of psychiatric disorders and the importance of mapping of regions of the genome to specifically pinpoint variants and causal mechanisms. This effort will reduce noise within existing genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and provide the results as a resource for fine-mapping causal genetic mechanisms that drive certain neuropsychiatric phenotypes, such as schizophrenia. NIMH encourages a number of mapping approaches including statistics, functional genomics, and diverse ancestry studies.

[Expand All]

Post-Acute Interventions for the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa

Matthew Rudorfer, M.D. andMary Rooney, Ph.D.
Division of Services and Intervention Research

Dr. Matthew Rudorfer reviewed the impact of and current treatment options in anorexia nervosa. Although no medication has been indicated for treatment of anorexia nervosa, some specialty clinics use short-term evidence-based interventions such as family-based psychotherapy and medical and behavioral approaches to restore healthy body weight. However, even the most promising of these interventions show only a 50 percent success rate by 6 to 12 months after treatment, illustrating the need for enhanced and sustained clinical response. This study supports development of treatments to promote and sustain weight restoration, emphasize relapse prevention, and target persistent, residual co-morbidities. This effort enhances existing research to improve longer term management of this serious, potentially life-threatening mental disorder.

[Expand All]

Practice-Based Research for Implementing Scalable Evidence-Based Prevention Interventions in Primary Care Settings

Eve Reider, Ph.D.
Division of Services and Intervention Research

Dr. Eve Reider said that the goal of this concept is to encourage scalable, sustainable implementation of research for prevention interventions in pediatric primary care settings. The project aims to leverage testing health service resources as a platform for delivering these interventions. She explained that sustainable approaches to prevention will require systematic identification of young people in need, followed by high-fidelity delivery of tailored, service-ready interventions. The research conducted by this project would contribute to an evidence base of effective, scalable interventions that can be implemented and sustained in pediatric primary care settings, including underserved populations who can be endorsed by the US Prevention Services Task Force and covered by insurance. Dr. Reider concluded that the scope of this research would include developing and testing algorithms and strategies for identifying and matching at-risk youth to appropriate prevention interventions, as well as strategies to train and support providers in delivering these interventions with fidelity.

[Expand All]

Laboratories to Optimize Digital Health

Adam Haim, Ph.D.
Division of Services and Intervention Research

Dr. Adam Haim explained that digital health tools can help clinicians track and understand the course of illness across the lifespan and can provide evidence-based interventions to those unable to access in-person treatments. To this end, this effort will encourage collaborations between academic research and digital health technology developers to establish digital mental laboratories, which will launch trials, identify and enroll participants, refine intervention content, and enhance service delivery. NIMH continues to support the development and testing of digital health technology, but NIMH-funded research in digital health has not kept pace with the rapid development of commercial technologies. Research indicates that a significant proportion of consumers use commercial digital health strategies to access mental health treatment, presenting an opportunity for academic researchers to provide their expertise. Together, researchers and large digital mental health platforms can collaborate to improve the quality, delivery, and sustainability of health care services.

[Expand All]

Mental Health Consultation via Telehealth to Optimize Care for Emergency Department Patients with Suicide Risk

Mike Freed, PhD, EMT-B and Jane Pearson, Ph.D.
Division of Services and Intervention Research

Dr. Michael Freed explained that the goal of this concept is to identify feasible tele-mental health consultation approaches for suicide prevention services in emergency departments (EDs), and to examine if and how these services are associated with reduced suicide-related outcomes. An increasing evidence base suggests that the ED is a valuable setting in which to provide suicide prevention practices, including universal screening, brief interventions, and follow-ups. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of telehealth in suicide prevention. This concept aims to investigate issues related to telehealth interventions, including risk reduction, inpatient/outpatient triage patterns, duration of ED visits, suicide rates, and financing.

[Expand All]

Effectiveness of Implementing Sustainable Evidence-Based Mental Health Practices in Low-Resource Settings to Achieve Equity in Outcomes for Traditionally Underserved Populations

Denise Juliano-Bult
MSW, Division of Services and Intervention Research

Ms. Denise Juliano-Bult explained that this concept was developed in collaboration with the Office of Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity and also the NIMH Disparities team. The purpose of this initiative is to encourage studies that develop and test the effectiveness of strategies for implementation and sustainable delivery of evidence-based mental health practices in settings where limited resources create barriers to care. In recognition that patients from underserved populations tend to experience disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, this project aims to address delivery barriers at provider, clinic, organizational, and systems levels, not only to assess capacity for implementation but also the potential of these interventions to improve health equity.

[Expand All]

Social Drivers of Mental Illness in Low & Middle- Income Countries; Mechanisms and Pathways of Intervention for Youth

Beverly Pringle, Ph.D.
Center for Global Mental Health Research

Dr. Beverly Pringle said that this concept will stimulate research on the mechanisms and pathways of interventions that target modifiable social drivers of mental illness in youth living in low- and middle-income populations. These drivers include domestic violence, abuse, environmental hazards, armed conflict, parent loss, and other extreme adversities that put youth at risk for developing emotional and behavioral problems. Over time, these conditions predict poor outcomes including low educational attainment, substance use, and chronic mental illness. As a result, there is a need for targeted interventions, including trauma-focused care and socio-cultural approaches, in areas experiencing severe shortages of mental health professionals. Data collected from this project would be relevant for youth in the United States who face chronic adversity in low-income settings. 

[Expand All]

Advancing Differentiated Care Approaches for Adolescents Living with HIV-1

Susannah Allison, Ph.D.
Division of AIDS Research

Dr. Susannah Allison reviewed the data related to HIV-related deaths in the United States, where youth HIV outcomes are among the poorest in the world. Given these health disparities, health care providers have identified an urgent need to develop innovative approaches to differentiated HIV care delivery, which responsively allocates services and resources to those with the highest level of need. The goal of this concept is to expand the number of differentiated care approaches for adolescents in order to meet their unique needs and disparities. The goal is to rapidly engage young people in care, harness the support of family and peers, encourage novel trial designs, and address HIV in a youth-centered context.

[Expand All]

Mood disorders in people living with HIV: Mechanisms and Pathways

Vasu Rao, M.B.B.S., M.S.
Division of AIDS Research

Dr. Vasu Rao presented an overview of mood disorders as a co-morbidity in people living with HIV. Research suggests that lifetime prevalence of mood disorders among people with HIV is close to 60 percent, but less than half of this population seeks care. Unfortunately, only a small proportion of those who do seek care achieve remission, suggesting that people with HIV and mood disorders may experience unique biological, psychological, and social factors. The purpose of this initiative is to support studies that investigate the interplay of biological, behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and social mechanisms underlying mood disorders in people living with HIV.

[Expand All]

Abbreviated Concept Clearance

Dr. Gordon explained the process for reviewing the abbreviated proposed concepts. The Council will briefly review the titles of these concepts and submit their written comments separately. They do not plan to discuss these concepts at this time. Dr. Gordon publicly announced the intent to fund the following three initiatives, which are renewals of existing R25 grant programs:

  • JNIMH Mentoring Networks for Mental Health Research Education (abbreviated)
    James Churchill, Ph.D. and Mark Chavez, Ph.D.
    NIMH Training Team
  • NIMH Research Education Programs for Psychiatry Residents (abbreviated)
    James Churchill, Ph.D. and Mark Chavez, Ph.D.
    NIMH Training Team
  • NIMH Short Courses for Mental Health-Related Research Education (abbreviated)
    James Churchill, Ph.D. and Mark Chavez, Ph.D.
    NIMH Training Team

Dr. Gordon reviewed the next two concepts, illustrating NIMH interest in the areas of brain circuitry and neuroscience:

  • Behavioral Tasks Targeting Brain Subsystems Relevant to Anhedonia (abbreviated)
    Andrew F. Rossi, Ph.D.
    Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science
  • Engineering Next-Generation Human Nervous System Microphysiological Systems (abbreviated)
    David Panchision, Ph.D.
    Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science

Dr. Gordon review the last two abbreviated concept proposals, which will be supported on a funds-available basis:

  • Eradication of HIV from Central Nervous System Reservoirs (abbreviated)
    Jeymohan Joseph, Ph.D.
    Division of AIDS Research
  • HIV Infection of the Central Nervous System (abbreviated)
    Jeymohan Joseph
    Ph.D., Division of AIDS Research

Dr. Gordon called for a motion to approve these concepts. A motion to approve was passed.

Comment from Retiring Member

Rhonda Robinson Beale, M.D.
Chief Medical Affairs Officer
Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health

Dr. Gordon thanked Dr. Robinson Beale for her contributions to this Council. Dr. Robinson Beale thanked Dr. Gordon and expressed gratitude to the Council for the opportunity to serve in this capacity, which she described as rewarding and informative, while also being daunting. She expressed her feelings that funding and attention towards mental health must also remain a priority. She hopes that NIMH will continue to focus and prioritize activities that impact the real-world settings, and she concluded by highlighting the need for strong, strategic partnerships.

Public Comment Period

Dr. Gordon invited the two registered public commenters to speak.

The first was Mr. Chase Bannister, the President of the Board of Directors for the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research Policy and Action. Mr. Bannister explained that over the last decade, NIMH research funding for eating disorders has remained level, despite the passage of appropriations report language encouraging investment in applied research for eating disorder prevention, early identification, and innovative treatment. He encouraged NIMH to foster meaningful evidence-based progress in this area by increasing research funding for eating disorders.

The second commenter was Ms. Elissa Myers, the Executive Director of the Academy for Eating Disorders. She explained that only one in three people with an eating disorder will receive treatment. She noted that NIMH funding for eating disorders is disproportionately small compared to other issues like schizophrenia, autism, and Alzheimer’s. In addition to increased funds, Ms. Myers pointed out a need for outcomes-based research in the field of eating disorders. She thanked the Council for their work and urged them to increase funding for eating disorder research and treatment development.

Dr. Gordon clarified that NIMH does not establish dollar amounts in funding a specific disorder. Rather, when they identify an underrepresented area in scientific research, they call for RFAs and allocate funding as needed to address gaps and opportunities. He concluded by thanking the Council for their efforts.

Adjournment

The open session of the NIMHAC meeting adjourned at 1:37 P.M.

Closed Session

The grant application review portion of the meeting was closed to the public in accordance with provisions as set forth in Section 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)6. Title 5, U.S. Code and Section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended. The closed session was set to resume at 2:30 pm.

Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
National Institutes of Health
National Advisory Mental Health Council
Summary of 257th Meeting, September 19, 2019

Others present:

  • Chase Bannister, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy and Action
  • Juliane Baron, FABBS
  • Sarah Brookhart, Association for Psychological Science
  • Erin Cadwalader – Lewis-Burke Associates
  • Andy DeSoto, Association for Psychological Science
  • Jonelle Duke, Bizzell Group
  • Yari Jamali, Transcriber
  • Patricia Kobar, American Psychological Association
  • Elissa Myers, Academy for Eating Disorders
  • Marie Rowland, Science Writer
  • David Sitcovsky, Autism Speaks
  • Aaron Walker – National Assoc. of State Mental Health Program Directors
  • TaRaena Yates, Bizzell Group

NIMH Staff

Rajini Agarwal
Alexander Arguello
Susannah Allison
Ishmael Amarreh
Phyllis Ampofo
Kathy Anderson
Paige Anderson
Victoria Arango
Jules Asher
Shelli Avenevoli
Susan Azrin
Shaunna Bach
Crystal Barksdale
Andrea Beckel Mitchener
Yvonne Bennett
Susan Borja
Beth Bowers
Linda Brady
Bettina Buhring
Holly Campbell-Rosen
Monica Carter
Zieta Charles
Mark Chavez
Jay Churchill
Rebecca Claycamp
Debra Dabney
Alex Denker
Jamie Driscoll
Tara Dutka
Jovier Evans
Greg Farber
Michele Ferrante
Michael Freed
Nick Gaiano
Marjorie Garvey

Karen Gavin-Evans
Lisa Gilotty
Nitin Gogtay
Chris Gordon
Margaret Grabb
Erin Gray
Adam Haim
Wanda Harris-Lewis
Samantha Helfert
Robert Heinssen
Lauren Hill
Mi Hillefors
Meena Hiremath
Andrea Horvath
Cathleen Hsu
Shuang-Bao Hu
Ann Huston
Terri Jarosik
Jeymohan Joseph
Denise Juliano-Bult
Setareh Kamali
Tamara Kees
Ashley Kennedy
Megan Kinnane
Thomas Lehner
Sarah Lisanby
Bo Yeon Lee
Thomas Lehner
David McMillen
Julie Mason
Doug Meinecke
Sarah Morris
Laurie Nadler
Liz Necka
Heather Ovelmen

David Panchision
Michele Pearson
Beverly Pringle
Dianne Rausch
Andrew Rossi
Geetha Senthil
Matthew Rudorfer
Judy Rumsey
Agnes Rupp
Chris Sarampote
Rachel Scheinert
Michael Schoenbaum
Aileen Schulte
Teri Senn
Pamela Shell
Joel Sherrill
Janine Simmons
Dawn Smith
Michael Stirratt
Leandra Stubbs
Abhi Subedi
Brooke Sydnor
Alexander Talkovsky
Jeena Thomas
Ashlee Van't Veer
Aleksandra Vicentic
Becky Wagenaar-Miller
Ann Wagner
Susan Wetherby
Makeda Williams
Abera Wouhib
Andrea Wijtenburg
Yong Yao
Natalie Zeigler

Appendix A

Summary of Primary MH Applications Reviewed
Council: September 2019

IRG Recommendation
Category Scored # Scored Direct Cost $ Not Scored (NRFC) # Not Scored (NRFC)
Direct Cost $
Other # Other Direct Cost $ Total # Total Direct Cost $
Research 573 $851,705,356 444 $516,976,452 0 0 1017 $1,368,681,808
Research Training 0 0 0 0 0
Career 65 $49,946,475 37 $30,401,146 0 0 102 $80,347,621
Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 638 $901,651,831 481 $547,377,598 0 $0 1119 $1,449,029,429

Appendix B

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
National Advisory Mental Health Council
(Terms end 9/30 of designated year)

Chairperson

  • Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.
    Director
    National Institute of Mental Health
    Bethesda, MD

Executive Secretary

  • Jean Noronha, Ph.D.
    Director
    Division of Extramural Activities
    National Institute of Mental Health
    Bethesda, MD

Members

Laura A. Almasy, Ph.D. (22)
Professor
Department of Genetics
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Cheryl A. King, Ph.D. (21)
Director
Mary A. Rackham Institute
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology
University of Michigan
Rachel Upjohn Building
Ann Arbor, MI
Marjorie L. Baldwin, Ph.D. (22)
Professor
Department of Economics
W. P. Carey School of Business
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ
John H. Krystal, M.D. (19)
Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research
Chair, Professor of Neurobiology
Chief of Psychiatry, Yale-New Haven Hospital
Department of Psychiatry
Yale University School of Medicine
New Haven, CT
Tami D. Benton, M.D. (19)
Psychiatrist-in-Chief
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry And Behavioral Sciences
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Gregory A. Miller, Ph.D. (20)
Professor and Chair
Department of Psychology
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Randy D. Blakely, Ph.D. (20)
Professor
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
Florida Atlantic University
Jupiter, FL
Yael Niv, Ph.D. (21)
Professor
Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Room 143
Department of Psychology
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
Ian H. Gotlib, Ph.D. (20)
David Starr Jordan Professor and Chair
Department of Psychology
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Neil J. Risch, Ph.D. (21)
Director
Institute of Human Genetics
Lamond Family Foundation Distinguished Professor In Human Genetics
University of California, San Francisco
513 Parnassus Avenue
San Francisco, CA
Alan E. Greenberg, M.D., M.P.H. (20)
Professor and Chair
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
School of Public Health
George Washington University
Washington, DC
Rhonda Robinson Beale, M.D. (19)
Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
Blue Cross of Idaho
Meridian, ID
David C. Henderson, M.D. (20)
Chair
Department of Psychiatry
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston, MA
Elyn R. Saks, J.D., Ph.D. (20)
Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law
Gould School of Law
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
Lisa H. Jaycox, Ph.D. (20)
Senior Behavioral Scientist
Health Program
Rand Corporation
Arlington, VA
Sophia Vinogradov, M.D. (22)
Donald W. Hastings Endowed Chair
University of Minnesota Medical School
Professor and Department Head
Department of Psychiatry
Minneapolis, MN
Brandon Staglin, M.S. (21)
Director
Marketing and Communications
One Mind Institute
Rutherford, CA
Christopher A. Walsh, M.D., Ph.D. (19)
Chief, Division of Genetics and Genomics
Boston Children’s Hospital
Bullard Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology
Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA

Ex Officio Members

Office of the Secretary, DHHS

  • Alex Azar
    Secretary
    Department of Health and Human Services
    Washington, DC

National Institutes of Health

  • Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
    Director
    National Institutes of Health
    Bethesda, MD

Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Amy M. Kilbourne, Ph.D., M.P.H..
    Director
    Quality Enhancement Research Initiative
    Health Services Research & Development
    Department of Veterans Affairs, Ann Arbor
    Ann Arbor, MI

Liaison Representative

  • Anita Everett, M.D., DFAPA
    Acting Director, Center for Mental Health Services
    Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration
    Rockville, MD