Establishing Pediatric CNS Pharmacodynamic Measures as Tools to Enable Psychiatric Indications in Adolescents

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) seeks research that helps determine the best dosing strategies when testing new psychiatric medications in children and adolescents with serious mental illnesses.This NOFO will focus on developing and refining central nervous system (CNS) tools and models that can show how medications affect the brain in young people. These tools might include functional brain imaging methods like EEG or fMRI, as well as digital health measures or cognitive assessments. Studies are encouraged that explore how dosing impacts drug exposure (pharmacokinetics) and related CNS functional effects (pharmacodynamics). The overall goal is to improve the safety and effectiveness of pediatric clinical trials by developing pediatric pharmacodynamic measures, to associate pharmacodynamic data with pharmacokinetic data, and to establish associated models. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. Researchers with expertise in pediatric psychiatry, neuroimaging, pediatric clinical pharmacology, clinical trials, or related fields are encouraged to consider applying to the new NOFO.