OPAL Center Methods Core

在最初的OPAL中心的方法核心创建的科学基础设施的基础上，在这次更新， “方法核心”将继续成为创新研究动力的源泉，重点是提高 为精神分裂症患者提供终生治疗和服务。通过协同 一对一咨询、研究方法研讨会、培训讲习班和跨单位 会议，方法核心旨在支持OPAL的研究项目，以优化的有效性， 在现实世界的临床环境中的治疗和服务，并检查实施问题（例如，可行性， 可接受性）对于提高广泛部署的准备程度至关重要。方法核心将追求 具体目标如下： 目标1.培养精神分裂症治疗和服务的创新研究， 有效性，同时减少现实世界临床环境中的医疗保健差异。跨项目方法， 将开发和支持包括：因果机制模型的转化研究，健康 公平框架，以及将认知健康纳入医疗和心理健康服务。 目标2.通过提供观点，支持拉丁美洲和加勒比伙伴关系办公室的签名和探索性项目以及试点研究的工作 并提供想法和帮助，以确保OPAL的有效使用 资源方法核心将包括两个新的单元- 1）认知健康和2）种族不平等， 社会决定因素-以及正在进行的OPAL方法核心中的五个已经建立的单元：3）数据科学 (i.e.研究设计，因果和预测建模，数据管理）; 4）定性方法; 5）临床 评估和培训; 6）技术/移动健康;以及7）伦理和人类受试者。核心方法将 回应行政核心的要求，特别是关于中心活动评估的要求，或 当行政核心在征求或审查试点研究提案时需要指导。 目标3.挑战学生和早期研究人员，以培养急需的技能和经验 跨学科的研究领域，并提供他们的工作和职业轨迹的持续反馈。

Building upon the scientific infrastructure created by the initial OPAL Center’s Methods Core, in this renewal, the Methods Core will continue to be a source of innovative research momentum focusing on improving treatment and services for people living with schizophrenia across the lifespan. Through the synergistic combination of one-on-one consultations, research methods seminars, training workshops, and cross-unit meetings, the Methods Core is designed to support OPAL’s research projects to optimize the effectiveness of treatments and services in real-world clinical settings and examine implementation issues (e.g., feasibility, acceptability) critical for enhancing readiness for broad deployment. The Methods Core will pursue the following specific aims: Aim 1. Cultivate innovative research on treatments and services for schizophrenia that optimizes their effectiveness while reducing healthcare disparities in real-world clinical settings. Cross project methods which will be developed and supported include: causal mechanistic modeling for translational research, a health equity framework, and integration of cognitive health into medical and mental health services. Aim 2. Support the work of OPAL signature and exploratory projects and pilot studies by offering perspectives and skills from multiple disciplines, and offer ideas and assistance to ensure productive use of OPAL resources. The Methods Core will include two new units – 1) cognitive health and 2) ethnoracial inequities and social determinants – and five already-established units from the ongoing OPAL methods core: 3) data science (i.e. research design, causal and predictive modeling, data management); 4) qualitative methods; 5) clinical assessment and training; 6) technology/mHealth; and 7) ethics and human subjects. The Methods Core will respond to requests from the Administrative Core, especially with regard to evaluation of Center activities, or when the Administrative Core needs direction in solicitation or review of pilot study proposals. Aim 3. Challenge students and early stage investigators to build skills and experience in critically needed transdisciplinary areas of study, and provide on-going feedback on their work and career trajectories.