The STARR News: December 2022 |
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We are delighted to invite everyone to join the STARR Annual Awards Celebration on Thursday, December 22nd!
This year's zoom event will be hosted by Adam Simmons of Alkermes and will be a great way to celebrate the end of the year with friends and colleagues from the STARR community!
Click the image to link to the event page where you'll find the calendar invite and all of the zoom info. If you would like us to send you a calendar invite, let us know by hitting reply or emailing erica@thestarr.org.
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Welcome Teva to the STARR Community!
We are delighted to announce that Teva Pharmaceuticals is now a STARR Corporate Member! Teva has been developing and producing medicines to improve people’s lives for more than a century. The company is a global leader in generic and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Around 200 million people around the world take a Teva medicine every day, and are served by one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the pharmaceutical industry. Along with their established presence in generics, Teva has significant innovative research and operations supporting its growing portfolio of specialty and biopharmaceutical products.
We are excited to work with Michelle Roberts and her colleagues on several projects, ranging from community engagement initiatives, helping to expand Teva’s US psychiatric site network, and building trust and promoting mental health clinical research as a care option for those living with mental illnesses.
The STARR Certified sites have have received an email from us regarding Teva’s new study to assess the impact of tardive dyskinesia (TD) and real-world treatment patterns and outcomes. The Phase 4, multicenter, prospective, observational two-part study is the largest-ever study of its kind for TD and will collect information from both patients and physicians on TD. The study will evaluate how the condition progresses over time and impacts a person’s quality of life, as well as outcomes related to treatment with AUSTEDO (deutetrabenazine) tablets.
If you are interested in learning more or working on the TD study, email me at erica@thestarr.org.
In the meantime, please join us in welcoming Teva to the STARR Community!
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Update on the 988 Lifeline
NAMI-NYS Excited to Share the New York State Office of Mental Health’s Latest 988 Brochures
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is excited to share yet another educational resource available about 988.
The 988 Brochure contains basic information about 988 including reasons individuals may contact 988, what happens when someone calls, texts, or chats 988, frequently asked questions, and much more! It’s an excellent resource for sharing the basics of 988.
The 988 Brochure has been created with three different cover photos. It can be viewed, downloaded, and printed by visiting the OMH 988 Webpage. A PDF version of each brochure is available in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Haitian Creole, Arabic, Korean, Bengali, and Russian on the OMH 988 webpage as well. This resource, and other resources available on the webpage, can be requested in any language that is not already available on New York’s 988 webpage by filling out the 988 Resource Translation Request Form.
You can also use the links below to view the brochures:
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988 Partner Toolkit
SAMHSA recognizes the need for governments, states, crisis centers, and partners to speak with one voice to ensure there is a clear understanding about what 988 is and how it will work. They have developed a 988 Partner Toolkit and encourage everyone to use the key messages, templates, social media posts, and printed materials.
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Brain Awareness Week 2023 is celebrated March 13-19. Join the global campaign to foster public enthusiasm and support for brain science. Visit the website HERE for tips on activities, events, and promotions you can do in your community!.
ASENT Annual Meeting 2023, being held March 13-15, 2023, will be virtual and free to attend. Learn about the latest in neurotherapeutics including innovations across disease states, novel delivery systems, gene therapy and biomarkers, and drug therapies and devices. Learn more here.
The ADAA 2023 Conference will be held on April 13-16, 2023, in Washington, DC at the Renaissance Washington, Downtown DC. The theme for the conference is From Science and Technology to Evidence-Based Practice: Enhancing Access Through Integration. For more information, click here.
ACRP 2023 is being held April 28-May 1 in Dallas. The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) invites clinical research professionals to join them to learn strategies, best practices, and creative solutions for improving clinical trial quality and advancing your career. Learn more here.
Save the date for the American Psychological Association (APA) 2023 Annual Meeting, May 20-24, 2023 in San Francisco, CA. When information becomes available, you can find it here.
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The Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASCP) to be held at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel on May 30 – June 02, 2023.
- Panels & Workshops Individual Presenter Proposals - Deadline - January 30, 2023
- Posters & Individual Research Reports - Deadline - January 30, 2023
- Pharmaceutical Pipeline Presentations - Deadline - February 16, 2023
- Late- Breaking Poster Proposals - Deadline - March 20,2023
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Karuna Therapeutics Appoints Bill Meury as President and Chief Executive Officer -- Former Allergan commercial executive Bill Meury will take over for longtime CEO Steve Paul as the company prepares to seek U.S. approval of the treatment, known as KarXT, next year. Dr. Paul will transition to president of research and development and chief scientific officer and continue to serve as a member of the board following the effective date. Brian Abrahams, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets, remarked that investors may view the move as a signal the company is “serious about building a commercial organization and operating independently.”
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Alkermes to split in two - Dublin-based Alkermes will split in two, separating its oncology sector from its neuroscience business, creating an independent publicly traded company. The decision follows Alkermes’ belief in the blockbuster potential of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder drug Lybalvi. Separating its oncology sector—which is in the development stage—will allow Alkermes to focus on commercialization of Lybalvi, which it launched in October of last year.
Psilocybin-assisted treatment improved drinking outcomes in patients with alcohol use disorder -- Research from New York University Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine showed psilocybin-assisted treatment improved drinking outcomes in patients with alcohol use disorder relative to outcomes observed with active placebo medication -- Percentage of heavy drinking days during the 32-week double-blind period was 9.7% for the psilocybin group and 23.6% for the placebo group. Mean daily alcohol consumption (number of standard drinks per day) was also lower in the psilocybin group. These results provide support for further study of psilocybin-assisted treatment for AUD.
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Research out of France indicates that it’s not the individual brain regions, but rather their connections that matter: neuroscientists propose a new model of how the brain works. This new view enables us to understand better why and how our brains vary between individuals. The researchers published it in a special issue of Science on November 4th.
Trial failures end latest hope for Roche’s Alzheimer’s drug -- The drug, called gantenerumab, failed two large Phase 3 clinical trials, a major setback to the Swiss company’s effort to prove the drug might slow the progression of the disease. Gantenerumab is meant to eliminate the toxic buildup of amyloid in the brain that research has long pointed to as the disease’s possible cause.
Alkermes Announces Recipients of 2022 Alkermes Inspiration Grants(R) Program -- Grants were awarded to nine nonprofit organizations working to address the needs of people living with alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder and cancer. The selected programs also have a focus on addressing unmet needs in historically under-resourced or underrepresented communities with longstanding and widespread health disparities. Our friends at DBSA recieved a grant to support the 'Addressing Mental Health Disparities Through Peer Support' program, to train Asian American/Pacific Islander, Black and rural peers with lived experience as support group facilitators and create 10 peer-led support groups.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the Suicide Prevention Resource for Action (Suicide Prevention Resource), which is an update and a significant expansion of Preventing Suicide: A Technical Package of Policy, Programs, and Practices (Technical Package) published in 2017. The new Suicide Prevention Resource includes strategies with the best available evidence to prevent risk for suicide and lessen the immediate and long-term harms of suicidal behavior for individuals, families, and communities.
Public Opinion on Brain Health Research Survey Results -- Brain health issues directly impact more than 8 in 10 Americans, according to a new survey released November 15; 82% of respondents said they know someone or have themselves experienced at least one brain disorder or mental health condition. Commissioned by Research!America in partnership with the Dana Foundation, the August 2022 national survey captures Americans views on brain health and brain health research.
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Worth a second glance...
The BBRF 2022 International Mental Health Research Symposium is now available to watch On-Demand. To view the presentations, enter your email address, and you will be taken to the 2022 Symposium Programs where you can select from the full list of programs.
The virtual Congressional briefing focused on the potential use of psychedelics in the treatment of psychiatric diseases, hosted by the American Brain Coalition and the American College of Neuropharmacology hosted is available for review. You can view the recording & read the summary now on ABC’s website or click the graphic to view on YouTube.
Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) is offering annual membership scholarships to students and early career professionals who identify as members of the BIPOC community. This program allows early career professionals and students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or as a person of color to participate in an evidence-based, interdisciplinary, and mission driven organization that is committed to bringing the latest in scientific advancement to professional and public communities.
Quick Facts:
There is a 2.6% increase in schizophrenia diagnoses, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com. NIMH lists schizophrenia as one of the top 15 leading causes of disability worldwide and provides the following statistics:
- Individuals with schizophrenia have an increased risk of premature mortality (death at a younger age than the general population).
- The estimated average potential life lost for individuals with schizophrenia in the U.S. is 28.5 years.
- Co-occurring medical conditions, such as heart disease, liver disease, and diabetes, contribute to the higher premature mortality rate among individuals with schizophrenia. Possible reasons for this excess early mortality are increased rates of these medical conditions and under-detection and under-treatment of them.
- An estimated 4.9% of people with schizophrenia die by suicide, a rate that is far greater than the general population, with the highest risk in the early stages of illness.
- Approximately half of individuals with schizophrenia have co-occurring mental and/or behavioral health disorders.
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CenExel iResearch continued to build their relationships and community support in Atlanta: in support of National Alzheimer's Awareness Month in November, CenExel iResearch staff visited three senior living facilities throughout Atlanta.
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The team introduced themselves and spoke one-on-one with the residents and shared the latest information on Alzheimer's and dementia research. |
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Dr. Kimball Johnson, CenExel iResearch Medical Director, and Maria A. Reid, APRN-BC gave memory loss presentations to residents and staff. |
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CNS Healthcare mobilized their team to put together food items and supplies for the community. The CNS Healthcare Mobile Health & Clinical Research Unit was loaded up and hit the road to deliver meals to families in need all over Central Florida during their annual "Basket Brigade".
This is a phenomenal way to support families in need and build their profile within the community!
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Finger Lakes Clinical Research in partnership with the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation, is offering free memory tests to adults aged 50 and older. The testing can determine if an individual's cognitive performance falls within the average age range norms as well as establishing a baseline score to track over time to detect early warning signs. This is a great way to help people and build trust within the community while determining eligibility to participate in a study.
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CenExel ACMR celebrated National Alzheimer's Awareness Month in November by visiting local senior living facilities. The team met with the residents to chat about Alzheimer's, dementia, and the latest available research, as well as providing free memory screenings.
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2020 Lew Yagodnik Award Recipient Matthew Shapiro
Back to Advocating Following Serious Accident
2020 Lew Yagodnik Award recipient, Matthew Shapiro, Senior Director of NAMI-NYS, has become a constant presence in the STARR Coalition’s advocacy activities and on several of our steering committees. Matthew is passionate in arguing how research equals hope and his participation along with his insights and positive energy has greatly helped the STARR advance our mission to connect the public with clinical trials and advocate for increased research.
The STARR and the mental health community had been without Matthew’s presence for several months this summer. In May, Matthew was in a serious car accident while traveling to Mental Health Awareness Month events in New York City. The accident left him with a list of injuries including a shattered hip, a broken pelvis, four fractured ribs and a fractured sternum. “While that list of injuries sounds scary, I’m really lucky,” reflects Matthew adding, “I must’ve had someone on my side that morning as I did not experience any head, neck or spine injuries and there was no damage to any of my organs. As bad as this was, it could have been so much worse. I’m incredibly grateful to be here and on the road to recovery.”
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Matthew was incapacitated for almost three months while recuperating from surgery and the myriad of injuries. While this was a difficult experience, Matthew considers himself fortunate to be able to use his almost life-long battle with mental illness as a means to instill resilience during this challenging time. “I have long been a traveler on the road to recovery as I was first diagnosed with ADHD when I was in three and a half years old,” Matthew laments, “I am so fortunate to learn so much about determination and strength in my battle against mental illness and to be able to apply those lessons to this latest challenge in my life. I have also gained so many recovery tools, such as understanding radical acceptance, which I have utilized as part of this recovery.”
You can’t keep a good advocate down and Matthew returned to work part-time in August, and while he hasn’t exactly hit the ground running (as he’s still using a walker) he has hardly slowed down. Since his return, Matthew organized NAMI-NYS’s first in-person education conference in two years, this past November. Matthew was excited to use the conference as not just a source of education (including featuring the latest in research and instilling the importance of research participation), but as a tool to bring about positive change. “One of the most exciting elements of this year’s conference was the inclusion of a track designed for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained officers,” Matthew states proudly adding, “we were thrilled to have more than thirty officers from all corners of the state participate in the conference. This gave them the opportunity to not just learn the latest issues, but get connected to our community and hear our stories. These connections will have positive reverberations for years to come.”
In 2021 and 2022, Matthew led the advocacy efforts for the implementation and appropriate funding of the 988 Mental Health Crisis Line in New York State. His efforts led to New York State enacting one of the strongest 988 legislation in the county and includes 24/7 statewide coverage offered in-state by culturally competent providers. As 988 went live while Matthew was still out on medical leave, upon his return promoting 988 and educating the public that 988 is more than a number has been among his leading priorities. The Saturday evening of the NAMI-NYS conference weekend featured the annual Off the Mask fashion show and awareness event. Matthew surprised the crowd at the end of the event by taking to the fashion show runway sporting a tee shirt that says “988 More Than a Number: Help, Hope and Healing,” NAMI-NYS gave all attendees a free 988 shirt to help with promotion. “This was such a cool and innovative way to explain the power of 988. After all I’ve been through over the last six months; it was incredibly gratifying to be able to participate in the show. The excitement and support I got from that crowd is something I will never forget.”
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Next up for Matthew is getting ready for the 2023 legislative session and working on NAMI-NYS’s soon to be released report on the need to increase mental health access. Matthew is also looking forward to continuing to work with the STARR Coalition. “Both NAMI-NYS and the STARR have accomplished so much in 2022, but there’s so much more that needs to be done,” Matthew says, adding “I’m incredibly grateful to be able to be here and return to the work I’m so passionate about. The accident was just another reminder that life will knock you down at times and for people living with a mental illness we get knocked down a lot. It’s what happens after we’re knocked down that really matters, you need to keep getting up. There is too much important work to do to stay down and be defeated. I truly hope my experience inspires people to keep getting up and get back in the fight.” |
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We exist to create meaningful change by increasing communication, partnerships and goodwill among stakeholders in the areas of mental health treatment, advocacy, and clinical research, with an emphasis on promoting clinical research sites as a valued part of the community and trusted treatment option.
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The STARR Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, our Tax ID # is 47-4634007.
We are happy to provide a form W9 upon request.
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Sites -- please share your feedback!
Which of the following is most important to you?
Select only the ONE that is most important to you.
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Please select one response:
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Enhancing patient diversity.
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Tips and tools to help with recruitment.
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Tips and tools to help with patient retention.
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Help connecting with local advocacy and nonprofit groups.
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Tips for staff retention and mental wellness.
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Results from last month's survey to sites: |
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How to Pull Off a Personal Annual Review
A no-fuss, intuitive way to take stock and map your priorities
By Yi Shun Lai
A year-end personal review can be super helpful in having a more purposeful life, which, as it turns out, is important to your physical, mental, and emotional health.
There are two primary things you have to remember when you’re using this technique:
- Keep it simple
- Set a time limit
Here’s the technique itself: Everything falls into one of three status markers — a plus (what went well); a minus (what didn’t go so well); or an arrow forward (what can you do better next time?). It’s worth noting that “what can you do better next time?” isn’t about the things you want to stop doing, but also about the things you want to keep doing.
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Using either the plus, the minus, or the forward arrow, you assess nine different categories:
- Health and Fitness
- Work and Business
- Personal Life
- Friends and Community
- Learning and Knowledge
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Travel and Culture (how much did you explore?)
- Hobbies and Creativity (how did you nurture your creative side?)
- Emotions and Spirituality (how did you connect with your inner self?)
- Money and Finances
Yours will look lovelier than mine. I like to dedicate a page to each category, by the way, but then again, I like a lot of space.
Make a page like this, or a diagram like this, for each of the nine categories. Then set a timer and go.
Some tips for success
Keep this process intuitive. Don’t overthink each column, just write or type. (For what it’s worth, I find hand-writing works much better with this exercise.)
Where do you go from here?
Okay! So now you have this fancy chart with lots of scribblings on it. What do you do now with it? Save it, obviously, and Le Cunff has some further tips:
- List your three biggest accomplishments
- List your three biggest challenges
- List your six main goals for the next year
She also suggested the following forward movements:
- Expand on your pluses, minuses, and forward actions
- Turn your chart and findings into a journal entry or blog post
And this is where the question of what we learned, comes into play. I think you’ll find that the more you muse and look at what you’ve done over the year, the more you’ll find things to learn from it — about yourself, the way you grow, and the life you want to lead.
Try the exercise and let me know how it goes!
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CALL FOR RESPONSES: Help Shape the American Brain Coalition’s FDA Engagement Priorities
Over the past two years, the American Brain Coalition (ABC) has been advocating before Congress and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to address the unmet need for treatments and cures for brain conditions, with a particular emphasis on improving patient engagement in the FDA process. A number of such proposals have emerged. With your feedback, ABC will implement an advocacy plan that is reflective of the priorities of its membership and will continue to provide ABC members with opportunities to engage in ABC’s advocacy efforts.
We invite ALL in the brain space to respond to the following survey by Friday, December 16th.
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Thank you for reading!
If you have questions, comments, or would like to submit an item to be included in an upcoming newsletter, please email erica@thestarr.org.
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The STARR Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, our Tax ID # is 47-4634007.
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The STARR Coalition | phone: 501-725-8890 | www.thestarr.org |
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SHARE, CARE, AND BE KIND. |
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