Suicide ResearchSuicide Researchat the at the

American Foundation for American Foundation for Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention

2008-20092008-2009

Stephen H. Koslow, PhD Stephen H. Koslow, PhD Research DirectorResearch Director

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AFSP MissionAFSP Mission Since it was founded in 1987, AFSP has Since it was founded in 1987, AFSP has

dedicated itself to dedicated itself to encouraging and funding encouraging and funding scientific researchscientific research aimed at understanding: aimed at understanding:

What are the underlying What are the underlying causes of suicidecauses of suicide?? What groups in the population are What groups in the population are most at riskmost at risk for for

suicide? suicide? What factors What factors increaseincrease suicide risksuicide risk for different groups? for different groups? What factors What factors protect against suicideprotect against suicide in different in different

groups?groups? How can at-risk people be How can at-risk people be treated treated most effectively?most effectively? What works – and what doesn’t – to What works – and what doesn’t – to prevent suicideprevent suicide

among those most at risk?among those most at risk? How can those at risk be How can those at risk be identified earlyidentified early to offer to offer

prevention?prevention? What is the most effective What is the most effective researchresearch for survivors? for survivors?

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AFSP Research GrantAFSP Research GrantCategoriesCategories

Distinguished Investigator GrantsDistinguished Investigator Grants – funds up to 2 years of research by – funds up to 2 years of research by senior experienced suicide researchers, senior experienced suicide researchers, $100,000$100,000

Standard Research GrantsStandard Research Grants – funds up to 2 years of research by proven – funds up to 2 years of research by proven researchers, researchers, $75,000 $75,000

Linked Standard Research GrantLinked Standard Research Grant – funds up to 2 years of research – funds up to 2 years of research collaboration for three or more sites to investigators at any level. collaboration for three or more sites to investigators at any level. $225,000$225,000

Young Investigator GrantsYoung Investigator Grants – funds up to 2 year of research by new – funds up to 2 year of research by new investigators who are guided in their research by proven research investigators who are guided in their research by proven research mentors; additional money is provided for the mentor mentors; additional money is provided for the mentor $85,000 $85,000 withwith $10,000$10,000 allocated to mentor allocated to mentor

Postdoctoral Research FellowshipsPostdoctoral Research Fellowships – funds up to 2 years of research – funds up to 2 years of research training and guided research for new MDs and PhDs training and guided research for new MDs and PhDs $100,000$100,000

Pilot GrantsPilot Grants – provide funding to pilot, small 1 or 2-year studies in new – provide funding to pilot, small 1 or 2-year studies in new areas of research; open to all researchers areas of research; open to all researchers $30,000$30,000

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Grant Submission and Grant Submission and Review ProcessReview Process Grants submission date, unsolicited, solicited or with Grants submission date, unsolicited, solicited or with

consultationconsultation Staff review for appropriateness for AFSPStaff review for appropriateness for AFSP Assigned to two outside expert reviewers Assigned to two outside expert reviewers Assigned to one member of the RGC for presentation, Assigned to one member of the RGC for presentation,

discussion, review and scoring at the RGC meetingdiscussion, review and scoring at the RGC meeting Results and Recommendations presented by AFSP Results and Recommendations presented by AFSP

staff to Scientific Board and Board of Directors for staff to Scientific Board and Board of Directors for ApprovalApproval

Critical feedback provided and those meritorious Critical feedback provided and those meritorious enough are funded (based on the availability of enough are funded (based on the availability of funds)funds)

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Types of Research Types of Research SupportedSupported

Neurobiological studiesNeurobiological studies Genetic studiesGenetic studies Epidemiological studiesEpidemiological studies Treatment & other clinical studiesTreatment & other clinical studies Prevention/intervention studiesPrevention/intervention studies Survivor research Survivor research

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Recent Changes in Recent Changes in AFSP Grant ProgramAFSP Grant Program New grant review cycleNew grant review cycle has been added. has been added.

Prior to 2008Prior to 2008 One deadline (Dec. 15) for applications in all One deadline (Dec. 15) for applications in all

grant categoriesgrant categories Two additional deadlines for Pilot Grant Two additional deadlines for Pilot Grant

applications only (Apr. 15 & Aug. 15)applications only (Apr. 15 & Aug. 15)

Beginning in 2008Beginning in 2008 Two deadlines (Dec. 1 & June 1) for Two deadlines (Dec. 1 & June 1) for allall grant grant

categoriescategories

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Grant Applications, Grant Applications, Last 5 Fiscal YearsLast 5 Fiscal Years

Category of Grant Number of Applications

  2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total

Distinguished Investigator 16 11 19 11 28 85

Standard Research 19 27 41 42 73 202

Young Investigator 26 28 44 37 57 192

Postdoctoral Fellowship 5 3 6 3 6 23

Pilot 49 47 40 64 35 235

Total 115 116 150 157 199 737

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Fiscal Year 2009Fiscal Year 2009December 15, 2007December 15, 2007 Applications received = 121Applications received = 121 21 (17%) re-applications21 (17%) re-applications Total Awarded = $1,927,000 million over 2 Total Awarded = $1,927,000 million over 2

yearsyears

June 15, 2008June 15, 2008 Applications received = 78Applications received = 78 27 (32%) re-applications27 (32%) re-applications Total awarded = $894,189 million over 2 yearsTotal awarded = $894,189 million over 2 years

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Research UpdateResearch Updateat AAS Annual Meetingat AAS Annual Meeting

Each April, AFSP sponsors Research Each April, AFSP sponsors Research Update session at annual meeting Update session at annual meeting of the American Association of of the American Association of SuicidologySuicidology

Features presentation of study Features presentation of study findings by AFSP grant recipients findings by AFSP grant recipients

Presenters receive AFSP-Pfizer Presenters receive AFSP-Pfizer Travel Awards (honorarium & Travel Awards (honorarium & expenses)expenses)

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Developing Centers Developing Centers for Suicide Interventionsfor Suicide Interventions In 2004, AFSP partnered with the National In 2004, AFSP partnered with the National

Institute for Mental Health and other federal Institute for Mental Health and other federal agencies to create 3 research centers to agencies to create 3 research centers to develop & test treatments and other develop & test treatments and other interventions to prevent suicide interventions to prevent suicide

Centers established at University of Centers established at University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, University Pennsylvania, Columbia University, University of Rochesterof Rochester

One goal was to stimulate collaborative studies One goal was to stimulate collaborative studies across the Centers (advantage = larger number across the Centers (advantage = larger number of suicidal patients)of suicidal patients)

Now underway: AFSP-funded Pilot Project for Now underway: AFSP-funded Pilot Project for the Development of a Suicide Attempt Registry the Development of a Suicide Attempt Registry

Suicide Attempt Suicide Attempt Registry Pilot ProjectRegistry Pilot Project

PI: Gregory K. Brown, Ph.D., U. PennPI: Barbara Stanley, Ph.D., Columbia

U.PI: Glenn Currier, M.D., Rochester U.

1313

Functions of theFunctions of theRegistryRegistry Surveillance: Assess scope of

problem and effectiveness of prevention interventions

Treatment Research: Establish a clinical trials network to develop and test interventions

Community Services: To provide outreach, referral and tracking services

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Goals of the Goals of the Attempt Registry Project Attempt Registry Project Test new measures for classifying “suicide Test new measures for classifying “suicide

attempts” (vs. self-harm behaviors without intent attempts” (vs. self-harm behaviors without intent to die) in psychiatric emergency rooms (ER) to die) in psychiatric emergency rooms (ER)

Train hospital personnel in using systematic Train hospital personnel in using systematic measuresmeasures

Determine whether suicide attempters will agree Determine whether suicide attempters will agree to participating in research studies during and to participating in research studies during and after hospitalizationafter hospitalization

Develop procedures for a national registry of Develop procedures for a national registry of suicide attempters willing to participate in suicide attempters willing to participate in research. Systematic classification of “suicide research. Systematic classification of “suicide attempt,” would ensure that findings are more attempt,” would ensure that findings are more comparable across studies.comparable across studies.

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Progress 9/2008Progress 9/2008

ColumbiColumbia a

Penn.Penn. RochestRochesterer

TotaTotall

AttemptsAttempts 2525 4141 3333 9999

Self Self InjuriesInjuries

88 44 1111 2424

ControlsControls 1616 1919 2020 4040

TotalTotal 4949 6464 6464 163163

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FutureFuture Direction Direction

Develop Registry across broader Develop Registry across broader geographical representation as geographical representation as well as Medical Emergency well as Medical Emergency settings with the ultimate goal of settings with the ultimate goal of a national suicide attempt a national suicide attempt registryregistry

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Suicide CollaboratorySuicide Collaboratory

Perpich LLC Funded for two years by NIMH to establish Perpich LLC Funded for two years by NIMH to establish a suicide collaboratory with AFSPa suicide collaboratory with AFSP

AFSP will advise on theAFSP will advise on the development of a National development of a National

Suicide Prevention Network organization to host Suicide Prevention Network organization to host workshops and virtual seminar activities, and facilitate workshops and virtual seminar activities, and facilitate the development of an active suicide investigator the development of an active suicide investigator network network

A major objective is to standardized definitions for A major objective is to standardized definitions for suicide and recommend the use a one or more suicide and recommend the use a one or more evaluation instruments in all studies funded by AFSP. evaluation instruments in all studies funded by AFSP. This is necessary to enhance integration of data This is necessary to enhance integration of data across experimental investigationsacross experimental investigations

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Shares Research Shares Research Enhancements with Enhancements with ChaptersChapters I welcome your suggestionsI welcome your suggestions I will be sending you the names of I will be sending you the names of

the investigators and details of the investigators and details of the new research that is funded in the new research that is funded in your regionyour region

I will be sending chapters I will be sending chapters significant research findings from significant research findings from our funded research as our our funded research as our investigators report it to usinvestigators report it to us

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Return on InvestmentReturn on Investment

COMPARISON OF COMPARISON OF ANNUAL DEATHS BY CAUSEANNUAL DEATHS BY CAUSE

(2005)(2005)

VS.VS. ANNUAL NIH SPENDING ON ANNUAL NIH SPENDING ON

MEDICAL RESEARCH BY MEDICAL RESEARCH BY CAUSECAUSE

(2007)(2007)

2020

Annual Deaths, by CauseAnnual Deaths, by Cause

Number of Deaths, 2007, by Cause

3,447

11,295

20,058

34,598

40,970

71,382

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

Causes of Death

Nu

mb

er o

f D

eath

s

Asthma

HIV/AIDS

Parkinson's Disease

Suicide

Breast Cancer

Diabetes

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Spending for Medical ResearchSpending for Medical Research

Research Dollars Spent by NIH, FY 2010, by Cause

$292

$3,086

$166$37

$741

$1,052

$0

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

$3,000

$3,500

Causes of Death

Re

se

arc

h D

olla

rs S

pe

nt

by

NIH

in M

illio

ns

Asthma

HIV/AIDS

Parkinson's Disease

Suicide

Breast Cancer

Diabetes

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THANK YOUTHANK YOU The AFSP Research Program is supported The AFSP Research Program is supported by the continuing fundraising efforts by the continuing fundraising efforts

of the Chapters. of the Chapters. Without these efforts, the advances our Without these efforts, the advances our funded research is making to understand funded research is making to understand

why suicide occurs and how it can be why suicide occurs and how it can be prevented would not be possible. prevented would not be possible.

Thank you, AFSP Chapters! Thank you, AFSP Chapters!