Innovation in Suicide Prevention for Youth and Young Adults
Official title: Innovation in Suicide Prevention Research Center (INSPIRE)
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11332074 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A center from the University of Pennsylvania aims to improve how proven suicide-prevention practices reach teens and young adults, using new tools to make them work in real-world settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,483,258 |
| NIH project number | 1P50MH143668-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332074 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Teens and young adults at risk for suicide or in need of transitional support, especially those encountered in acute care or community settings.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals outside the target age ranges or without risk factors may not directly benefit from the specific interventions developed.
What this research studies
This NIH grant supports a Center that will create and adapt practical suicide-prevention programs for adolescents and young adults, with a focus on delivering them reliably in urgent care and community settings. It will use advanced technologies like AI and electronic health records, along with mixed-methods research, to design, test, and scale interventions with high fidelity. The work includes a Signature Project and three Exploratory Projects that emphasize rapid translation, real-world feasibility, and cost evaluation to maximize public health impact.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the center could make effective suicide-prevention interventions more accessible and consistently applied for youth and young adults.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows promise for evidence-based prevention approaches, and this project aims to scale them with new technologies and implementation methods.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oquendo, Maria a — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Oquendo, Maria a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Mobile safety planning for at-risk young adults
A digital, text-based safety planning program for young adults (ages 18–24) to help prevent suicide and stay connected to support.
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INCLUSAVE: helping young adults with IDD access suicide-prevention trainings
A new NIH grant studies whether two proven gatekeeper trainings (ASIST and safeTALK) can be delivered in inclusive settings to support young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their communities.
-
Technology-assisted suicide prevention for youth in Colombian school settings
A youth-focused program will test a culturally tailored digital platform and teacher training to reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors in schools.
-
Qnnections: A Social Connection‑Focused Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ+ Veterans
A new group-based program tailored for LGBTQ+ Veterans aims to strengthen belonging and reduce burdensomeness to help prevent suicide.
-
Nurse- and Peer-Led Suicide Prevention for Women in Tajikistan
A nurse- and peer-led program in Tajikistan aims to help women at risk of suicide by adding tailored, frontline support in primary care.
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Targeted online suicide prevention for Veterans
A web-based, one-session intervention for Veterans to reduce thoughts of suicide and self-harm by helping them manage distress and rigid thinking.
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.