We will have cores to support collaborations, providing expertise in cross-cutting substantive and methodological areas, allowing our researchers to employ cutting-edge methods, and enhancing the competitiveness of external grant applications. Institute for Research on Addictions and Mental Health will have following cores:

The Pilot/Developmental Studies Core provides processes for conceiving, vetting, evaluating, and implementing pilot research projects that support the exploration of new ideas, methods, and collaborations that will advance external grant applications. The goal is to provide pilot data and evidence that would support a robust preliminary studies section for grant applications.

This core is led by Robin Mermelstein, PhD and Niranjan Karnik, MD, PhD.

The Methods/Analysis Core provides the technology and expertise needed to enhance and extend the collection, management, and analysis of data relevant to addictions research. It leverages the expertise of the Institute for Health Research and Policy’s (IHRP) Data Management and Methods Research Cores to provide support for data management and statistical support (quantitative and qualitative) across projects, allowing researchers access to pre-award consultation advice and an integrated statistical and data expert on the team from design through implementation; facilitates access and consultation to psychometrically sound measures across projects; helps to implement cross-project analyses and harmonization; and provides consultation and expertise on common statistical approaches to address key issues related to addictions research in clinical, community, and big data elements.

One of the goals of the Methods/Analysis Core in the first year is to develop a set of recommendations for common core measures for all projects to use – thus setting the stage for future cross-project synergies and collaborations.

This core is led by Bethany Bray, PhD.

The Population Data and Modeling Core will advance the application of data-driven computational (e.g., agent-based) and mathematical simulation models to evaluate population-level outcomes (e.g., impact of an intervention on fatal overdose; impact of ban of flavors in e-cigarettes on cessation rates). The core will build on the team’s current work as well as facilitate the use of secondary data from empirical research studies, state and healthcare sources (e.g., electronic health records) to develop comprehensive models for addressing addiction-related outcomes.

The core will also provide linkages to “big data” analytic and computational groups (e.g., linkages with proposed Data Science Research Institute and linkages with Argonne National Laboratory). This core will also provide strong linkages with CHEMA. As the Institute grows over time, we will consider including data on marketing trends (from accessing data sources for marketing data), especially for nicotine and cannabis products, as well as capacity for monitoring social media marketing.

This core is led by Basmattee Boodram, PhD.

The State Partnerships and Surveillance Core will develop close collaborations with state agencies (Illinois and others) to develop data use agreements for the purpose of implementing a comprehensive, integrated data base composed of currently disparate public health data sets related to monitoring substance use, mental health, and related disorders.

The system will be used to support ongoing epidemiological and public health surveillance and cross-system tracking of service utilization using novel analytic and IT technologies as proposed for the population data and modeling core. This core will also be important to help identify emerging trends in substance use products, or subpopulations that are experiencing surges in use or overdoses. It will help provide needed state-specific background data for grant proposals.

This core is led by James Swartz, PhD.

The Community-Clinical Treatment Engagement Core will build links to community- and clinic-based treatment and interventions sites for participant recruitment and for the development and implementation of research protocols. This core will help close the gap between research and practice and also, facilitate implementation science studies.

This core is led by Sarah Messmer, MD and Jennie Jarrett, PharmD.

The Intervention Development, Delivery and Evaluation Core will advise on feasibility, acceptability, usability, and efficacy of innovative assessments and intervention tools for substance use disorders, including: clinical trial best practices; best practices for effective user-centered design of behavioral interventions (linking to Institute for Healthcare Design and Delivery); use of digital therapeutics for developing and evaluating substance use interventions with co-occurring mental or physical health conditions (providing linkages to the Digital Mental Health Research); and use of novel pharmacological treatments or modalities.

This core is led by Kathi Diviak, PhD.