Family Navigator Support for Teens with Bipolar Disorder
Official title: A Family Navigator Model for Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11139153 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program that helps families of teens with bipolar disorder get quicker, smoother access to mental health services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2026 |
| Project end | August 12, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $708,914 |
| NIH project number | 1R34MH137101-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11139153 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families of youth aged 11–15 who are referred to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Spectrum Services clinic and need help navigating mental health care.
✕Less likely to help
Youth whose families can already navigate services effectively may see limited additional benefit.
What this research studies
This grant proposes adapting a Family Navigator model to help families of 11- to 15-year-olds with bipolar disorder connect with the right services. Navigators will educate families, coordinate care, and address obstacles to treatment, using existing clinic data to tailor plans. The approach includes integrating navigator data into the clinic’s measurement-based care system to monitor engagement and outcomes. The goal is to reduce delays in receiving care and improve ongoing involvement in treatment for youth and their caregivers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this model could help more teens with bipolar disorder receive timely, appropriate care and support for their families.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows Family Navigation can improve engagement in mental health services for youth, but this specific model for bipolar disorder in early adolescence is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levenson, Jessica C — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Levenson, Jessica C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Detailed brain mapping for bipolar disorder and major depression
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-
Understanding how mood swings happen in bipolar disorder
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Cerebellum and mood in bipolar disorder
A long-term study will look at how the cerebellum’s signals and metabolism relate to mood changes in people with bipolar I and compare them with non-affected individuals.
-
Biological signs linked to alcohol problems in young people with bipolar disorder
This project will look for brain and stress-related signs that predict which young people with bipolar disorder and their peers may go on to develop alcohol problems.
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Improving emotion control in bipolar disorder with rapid noninvasive brain stimulation
This project uses short sessions of rapid, noninvasive brain stimulation aimed at a specific brain area to help people with bipolar disorder improve control over emotions.
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Finding genes linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in Latino and mixed-ancestry people
This project will combine genetic information and gene-activity (RNA) data from Latino people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and people without these conditions to find genes that raise disease risk.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.