To continue its innovative research on bipolar disorder, Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research was awarded $2.3 million and joined the Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder (BD²) Integrated Network, a national collaborative research and clinical care initiative aimed at transforming treatment and care for individuals living with bipolar disorder.
Headed by Caitlin Millett, PhD, assistant professor in the Feinstein Institutes’ Institute of Behavioral Science, the site is located at Northwell Health’s Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks.
The BD² Integrated Network’s approach is a collaborative effort to drive scientific advancements by focusing on improving patient care in near-real time through biotechnology, big data analytics, and a data ecosystem to address bipolar disorder.
The Feinstein Institutes joins nine other institutions, including the University of Cincinnati/Lindner Center of HOPE, the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Texas at Austin, as part of this national research collaboration.
Bipolar disorder: Bipolar disorder is a complex and heterogeneous disorder, and more than 70% of people with bipolar disorder are misdiagnosed at least once. And it takes seven years on average to diagnose bipolar disorder, and less than 50% of those who are diagnosed find an effective treatment.
The research: The research from each of these sites will involve a large-scale longitudinal study and a learning health network model, allowing for continuous feedback between research findings and clinical practice. And this approach aims to translate research discoveries into improved patient care more efficiently and will focus on in-depth patient characterization, adherence to clinical guidelines, and integration of research and clinical activities.
KEY QUOTES:
“With this grant, we will contribute to a deeper understanding about bipolar disorder, with a focus on addressing the challenges of diagnosis and treatment. We also hope to expand access to effective care for our patients.”
Dr. Millett
“Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed and effective treatments remain elusive for many living with it. This funding allows us to contribute to a national effort to improve diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately, the lives of those affected by this complex disorder.”
Anil K. Malhotra, MD, co-director and professor of the Feinstein Institutes’ Institute of Behavioral Science and vice chair for research with the Department of Psychiatry at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
