# Connecting FEP Research and Practice through a Learning Health System

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · 2020 · $1,489,361

## Abstract

Project Summary
The National Institute of Mental Health has developed the Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET) to learn
from the national implementation of coordinated specialty care (CSC) for first episode psychosis (FEP). We propose
an EPINET node [Connection Learning Health System (LHS)] that will support uniform data collection, analysis,
feedback, and infrastructure development to promote a cultural of continuous quality improvement across 14 well-
established CSC programs in Maryland and Pennsylvania serving over 500 young adult clients per year in urban,
suburban, and rural settings. We will implement a core assessment battery and develop a system to manage and
analyze data across programs and to provide feedback to programs on patient outcomes and fidelity to the CSC
model. Building on our experience in cross-state clinician training and consultation, we will expand our existing
learning collaborative for CSC implementation in Maryland into a cross-state an LHS that will identify clinical
questions, analyze data, and apply findings to optimize practice across all of our CSC programs. We propose a
practice-based research project to adapt a motivational interviewing intervention for nontreatment-seeking heavy
cannabis-using adolescents to target CSC engagement, medication adherence, and risk reduction to improve use,
functioning, and recovery outcomes in FEP patients who are persistent cannabis users. We will work with the EPINET
National Data Coordinating Center to implement standard measures and share common data elements to answer
clinical questions to improve CSC for young adults experiencing FEP.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10121052
- **Project number:** 1R01MH120550-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- **Principal Investigator:** MELANIE E. BENNETT
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,489,361
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-07 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10121052

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10121052, Connecting FEP Research and Practice through a Learning Health System (1R01MH120550-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10121052. Licensed CC0.

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