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Clinical Science
Research and Development
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CSRD Newsletter
Vol. 6, No. 6, 2024.7.25
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An Introduction to the Suicide Prevention Actively Managed Portfolio (SP-AMP)
The Office of Research and Development (ORD) is currently transforming from an organization that has been structured around research methods (basic science, clinical science, health service, rehabilitation) to one based on Veteran problem areas and diseases. Research in domains that are particularly important to Veteran health will be managed in discreet portfolios referred to as Actively Managed Portfolios (AMPs). Because suicide prevention is a priority area for the Department of Veterans Affairs, suicide prevention projects will be managed using the AMP model, and this AMP, referred to as the Suicide Prevention Actively Managed Portfolio (SP-AMP), will serve as the home for all types of projects that seek to improve the understanding of suicide and prevent suicidal behavior. The SP-AMP will include suicide prevention projects that had previously been supported by all Services (BL, CS, HS, & RRD), and moving forward, the SP-AMP will support investigations that utilize the full spectrum of research methods including preclinical, translational, clinical, and health services/implementation studies.
Investigators who are interested in submitting a project that is primarily concerned with improving our understanding of suicide or preventing suicidal behavior should submit their application to the SP-AMP for consideration. This interest in the SP-AMP would be indicated during the pre-application process when investigators are asked to designate the project’s responsiveness to an ORD Notice of Special Interest (NOSI). For FY25, the SP AMP intends to release two NOSIs. The primary NOSI will be a “broad” NOSI that is designed to capture the full range of suicide prevention studies. It is anticipated that the majority of suicide prevention studies funded by ORD will be investigator-initiated projects that will be captured through this broad funding announcement. But, in addition to the broad NOSI, the SP AMP will release a more focused NOSI that is designed to promote certain priority area(s) for the SP-AMP in the upcoming fiscal year.
The aim of the focused NOSI is to highlight the need to support research areas that might be particularly helpful in advancing treatment and prevention efforts and follows from one of the core capabilities of the AMP which is to is to establish a research agenda and prioritize research domains that could rapidly translate into improved treatment and prevention. To lead the development of the SP-AMP research agenda and to determine priorities for the portfolio, a SP-AMP Executive Steering Committee was formed and includes leaders from clinical partners, Veteran stakeholders, ORD, field investigators, and other funding agencies. Tasked with identifying areas in need of research support, the SP-AMP Executive Steering Committee utilized a process created by VA Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) that involved three steps in prioritization establishment. The steps in prioritization determination are (1) identifying existing priorities and implementation gaps, (2) soliciting stakeholders’ feedback about the importance of each topic area, and (3) allowing organizational leaders to review collected data and then rank/prioritize topics.
Utilizing the QUERI prioritization process, the SP-AMP Executive Steering Committee first reviewed existing priorities published by governmental (e.g., CDC, DoD, VA) and non-governmental organizations (e.g., APA, American Suicide Foundation) that had vested interests in suicide prevention. This review identified 156 separate suicide prevention priority statements. Through a systematic process of coding domains by key words located within each statement, the SP-AMP team distilled the 156 priority statements into 11 research domain areas (e.g., identification of suicide risk, non-somatic suicide prevention interventions) that were to be considered by the Executive Steering Committee as candidate topics for prioritization. Utilizing both survey and focus-group methods, the SP AMP team then sought feedback from stakeholders (i.e., Veterans, SP Leads, SP investigators) on the relative importance of research topic domains. Information obtained from the stakeholders, along with an analysis of ORD’s current suicide prevention portfolio, was presented to the Executive Steering Committee who then completed a prioritization ranking exercise.
The results of this prioritization exercise showed that the committee strongly supported prioritization of Lethal Means Safety (LMS) research for the portfolio. As highlighted in the 2024 VA / DoD Suicide Prevention Clinical Practice Guidelines, ready availability of a firearm confers additional suicide risk and divestment of firearms can decrease suicide. However, there is limited evidence on the best approaches to promote voluntary firearm safety in Veterans, and there is limited efficacy and effectiveness data on existing approaches including LMS counseling and LMS messaging. Therefore, because advances in LMS approaches to suicide prevention could prevent Veteran suicide death and because of the relative underfunding of this research domain, the SP-AMP Executive Steering Committee recommended prioritization of this research domain through a separate focused NOSI for the upcoming funding cycles.
The resultant LMS NOSI is designed to promote research that could improve the state of the science for lethal means interventions, LMS counseling, LMS messaging, and other strategies that limit access to lethal means during periods of suicidality. This NOSI represents the manifestation of SP AMP priority setting process and is intended to provide opportunities to expand our LMS research in ORD. The NOSI will include suggestions offered by LMS experts on the type of projects that could advance the state of the science and lead to advancements in suicide prevention practice. And, of course, it is the intention that the LMS NOSI will support research that will ultimately lead to evidence-based interventions that will reduce suicide in the Veteran population.
Both the broad and specific NOSIs for the SP-AMP will be released this summer and will be announced broadly and through multiple channels. Once released please contact me or your program officer with any questions about possible applications to the SP-AMP.
--from the desk of Dr. Joseph Constans, Senior Manager for Suicide Prevention, ORD
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BLRD and CSRD will be hosting our last annual Career Development Symposium on July 30 and 31. Investigators with BL or CS Career Development Awards with start dates in Calendar Year 2021 and Calendar Year 2023 have been invited to participate. We are looking forward to this opportunity to hear from our early-career investigators, answer their questions, introduce them to various ORD stakeholders, and build community.
Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Assistant Undersecretary for Health, Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks, will talk to participants enrolled in the Summer Research Program (SRP) at the Central Western Massachusetts VA on Wednesday, July 31. The focus of this Summer Research Program is Women’s Health.
The CSRD margin meeting for the recent funding cycle was held on July 11 and “Intent-to-Fund” notices have been sent to stations.
During the most recent Clinical Trial Letter of Intent (LOI) Round, for Fall 2024 applications, CSRD had a total of 26 LOIs submitted. Of those, 16 were approved, seven were disapproved, two were referred to another Service, and one was referred to submit to the standard Merit RFA.
During the most recent Career Development Award Letter of Intent (LOI) Round, for Fall 2024 applications, CSRD had a total of 11 LOIs submitted. Of those, eight were approved, two were referred to another Service, and one was administratively withdrawn.
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We extend a warm welcome to Mary Walsh as she assumes the role of CSRD Administrative Officer. Mary joined VA ORD in 2021 as a Management and Program Analyst in Health Systems Research. During her time in HSR, Mary served as a member of the leadership team, managing the HSR budget and serving as the HSR liaison to the Independent VA Investigator Consortium (HSR investigators unaffiliated with Centers of Innovation), the HSR Resource Centers and Evidence Synthesis Program, and on ORD workgroups to support the realignment and records management. Prior to joining ORD, Mary was the Administrative Officer for the VA HSR Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion in Pittsburgh, PA since it was established in 2001. Mary joined the VA in 1997 to help establish the health services research program at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Before coming to the VA, Mary worked as a Research Coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh on a series of projects focused on improving patient outcomes in community-acquired pneumonia led by Wishwa Kapoor, MD, MPH, and Michael Fine, MD, MSc. Mary’s clinical background is in nursing, and she worked as a registered nurse in cardiothoracic and trauma intensive care units at major medical centers in Pittsburgh, Boston, and San Francisco before joining the research workforce. Mary currently lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, Sean, and has one son, Pearse, as well as seven brothers, five sisters, 30 nieces and nephews, and three grandnieces/nephews.
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As we bid a fond farewell to Dr. Vetisha McClair, please see the personal notes from her below:
“I want to send a sincere thanks to everyone at VA. The investigators, colleagues and ORD leadership have made my time here a true delight. For those who do not know me, I have been the Scientific Program Manager for Clinical Mental Health Projects in CSRD since 2018. My last day is Friday, July 26. While at VA/CSRD I have run the MHBB, MHBC, MHBP and PSYC panels. Over the years I have accomplished so much. I am particularly proud of leading our research initiatives in Psychedelics, Ketamine, and TMS. I also enacted the creation of the MHBC and MHBP panels. I have counseled hundreds of investigators and potential applicants. I also lead the creation of our Proposal Writing Workshop for VA Early Career Investigators. I have been an active member of our Employee Engagement Tiger team, the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, and the VHA Psychedelic Integrated Project Team.
“I will be transitioning to the Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation as the Deputy Director of the Division for Healthcare Quality and Outcomes. While my time at VA has come to an end, I don’t believe in saying goodbye. Government research is a very small fraternity/sorority; I am certain that I will cross paths with many of you again. Until then, I will simply say ‘See you later!'”
Upon Vetisha’s departure:
- For inquiries about Spring 2024 MHBP/MHBC summary statements contact: Kristina Nord (Nord@va.gov).
- For inquiries about Fall 2024 MHBP/MHBC/PSYC panel meetings contact: Alex Chiu (chiu@va.gov).
- For inquiries about the STRONG ACT Section 507 contact: Joe Constans (constans@va.gov).
- For all other inquires please contact: vhablrd-csrd@va.gov.
 Members of the Employee Engagement Tiger Team hosted an ORD farewell on July 8.
JIT Extension July
The 180-day deadline for Fall 2023 applications in eRA Just-In-Time (JIT) is fast approaching (August 11, 2024). If a JIT extension waiver is needed, please submit a request using the ORD JIT Extension Request form. Requests for a 30-day extension (at most 60-day extension for first-time requests) should be submitted to eRA JIT. The justification memo should be detailed and include specifics of current progress on the outstanding JIT items, steps being taken to complete the items, revisions being made in response to IRB or R&D, and an approximate timeline for completion. The PI should prepare the document and the ACOS/R should sign the JIT extension request memo prior to submission. Extensions will not be approved for applications that are still missing JIT areas which do not require regulatory approval (e.g., PI Assurance, Other Support, Revised Budget).
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Office of Research and Development
Changes to the VA Intramural Awards Program
By Christopher Bever, MD
Wednesday, August 7, 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET
The VHA Office of Research and Development (ORD) is undergoing a research enterprise transformation. Within ORD, the Investigators, Scientific Review, and Management (ISRM) Initiative will be implementing three key changes on October 1, 2024: (1) transitioning from a Service based research organization to a Portfolio based research organization, (2) centralizing key operations functions to support portfolios, and (3) standardizing key aspects of the RFA process. This training will highlight those changes as teams shift to the new structure.
**Advance Registration Required**
Register now:
Changes to the VA Intramural Awards Program registration - VA WebEx Enterprise Siterise Site
Questions? Visit the Cyberseminar FAQ
This is an Office of Research and Development Presentation.
For more information on these and other HSR Cyber Seminars go to http://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/for_researchers/cyber_seminars.
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Mark Roltsch
The ORD sponsored Leadership Development Program Graduation was held Wednesday, July 24. 36 VHA employees, 20 from ORD and one from CSRD (Mark Roltsch), graduated from the 6-month leadership program. Dr. Rachel Ramoni, Chief Research and Development Officer, was the guest speaker.
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Eric Schwinder
CSRD’s Eric Schwinder is a member of the Rhode Island Air National Guard, where he was recently selected to serve as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the 143d Medical Group.
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On May 4, Eric's unit held a ceremony to promote him to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant and award the Meritorious Service Medal, recognizing his outstanding accomplishments in his previous role as the Superintendent of Nursing Services.
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- Clinical Trial Manager Kristina Nord, MSW LICSW, will be among those attending the International Society for Tramautic Stress Studies (ISTSS) Annual Meeting, September 25-28 in Boston, MA.
The CSRD Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), that provides data and safety monitoring for CSRD-funded projects, is seeking new members -- oncologists, biostatisticians, neurologists, and others. For more information, please contact DMC Manager Dr. Tamara Paine at Tamara.Paine@va.gov.
Career Development: VHACADEReview@va.gov
Clinical Trials: clin-review@va.gov
General Mailbox: VHABLRD-CSRD@va.gov (Please note this is a shared mailbox that should be used for general questions that will be triaged by staff to the appropriate individual.)
Just-in-Time Mailbox: VHACOBLCSRDJIT@va.gov
Scientific Portfolio/Program Managers: BLR&D and CSR&D Contact Information (va.gov)
Newsletter: Lucindia.Shouse@va.gov
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