Understanding brain signs and daily experiences to prevent suicide in high-risk Veterans
Official title: Using Neuroimaging to Enhance Veteran Suicide Risk Detection and Prevention
Funded at Minneapolis VA Medical Center · NIH-11307018 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A five-year program helping a VA clinician become an independent researcher to use brain imaging and daily mood data to spot and prevent suicide risk in high-risk Veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Minneapolis VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2CX002544-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11307018 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
High-risk Veterans who are inpatient and preparing for discharge and who can participate in MRI scans and daily EMA surveys for about one month after discharge.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not eligible for MRI or unable to complete after-discharge EMA monitoring may not receive direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports advanced training in neuroimaging and daily-life data collection to better identify who among high-risk Veterans may attempt suicide. The study combines MRI brain scans with daily ecological momentary assessments during and after inpatient care to map moments of higher risk. Through mentorship and formal coursework, the investigator aims to develop skills to translate brain and behavioral data into better prevention strategies for Veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve early identification of suicide risk in Veterans and inform targeted prevention efforts.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work supports combining neuroimaging with real-time behavioral data to understand suicide risk, though this exact approach is being developed in this setting.
Where this research is happening
-
Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Carol Chu — Minneapolis VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Yu, Carol Chu
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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.