Critical mass of multi-disciplinary experts, clinical delivery, research, and education
Rationale: NNDC “Center of Excellence” member institutions are required to have a critical mass of multidisciplinary experts in depressive and bipolar disorders with at least 6 collaborating investigators in some aspect of mood disorders; a comprehensive clinical delivery system; a substantial funding base in grants and research in depression, bipolar disorders, and related disorders; and evidence-based education within a medical setting. Evidence of this funding base is to have multiple R01s or the equivalent. National recognition of excellence in mood disorders research is also expected. While coverage in depression, bipolar and related mood disorders in the setting of medical conditions is required, greater emphasis in one or more of these areas, i.e. subspecialization, is encouraged. All centers do not need to be identical.
Comprehensive Depression Center Commitment
Rationale: Each NNDC “Center of Excellence” institutional member must either have or be willing to take steps to form a Comprehensive Depression Center. The comprehensive depression center is expected to integrate basic, translational, clinical, and population-based research with clinical care delivery and educational activities. Commitment from university or host institution to provide sufficient resources, space and funding including NNDC membership dues is also required. It is expected that the university or host institution will provide sufficient authority to the Director of the Comprehensive Depression Center to ensure successful long-term operation.
Each member committing to establish or expand their existing center to meet comprehensive depression center requirements would be expected to develop and submit a written proposal signed by their university or host institution official to the NNDC Governing Board after preliminary approval as an NNDC site.
Partnerships with diverse schools and departments and interdisciplinary orientation. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”
Rationale: “Center of Excellence” member institutions are expected to involve diverse schools and departments in their comprehensive depression centers in keeping with the interdisciplinary principle of the network, e.g., family medicine, other primary care, psychology, public health, nursing, pharmacy, social work, etc. Partnerships could also be with appropriate departments or schools outside their university or host institution.
“Center of Excellence” member institutions are required to organize interdisciplinary research, clinical delivery, and education across involved scientific areas of the institution to “make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.” Every “membership year,” each of the “Center of Excellence” member institutions is required to provide the NNDC Governing Board with an organizational chart and/or other data demonstrating the availability and integration of the various educational, clinical and research components. Clinical translation into underserved populations is mandatory and satellite clinics are recommended.
Community outreach, education, and training
Rationale: “Center of Excellence” institutional members are required to have substantial community outreach and education programs or plans to implement such programs in the near future. “Center of Excellence” member institutions are also required to show evidence of working with local community or advocacy groups (e.g., NAMI, DBSA).
Network collaborations
Rationale: It is the philosophy of the NNDC that its institutional members will collaborate in research and clinical delivery; have common collaborative efforts in outreach and education; and engage external stakeholders including advocacy groups and others in informing public policy. NNDC “Center of Excellence” member institutions are required to engage in substantial collaborations within the network.
Some examples of these collaborations include participation in common network research protocols developed by the NNDC; contributing content and review efforts for potential NNDC publications; collecting standardized assessment data and monitoring outcomes; collaborating with other NNDC member institutions in scientific work, including research, development of guidelines, protocols and standards etc.; participating in multi-institution data analyses supported by the NNDC; and contributing to NNDC informatics infrastructures.
Contributions in addition to membership dues
Rationale: Each “Center of Excellence” member institution shall make substantial “in-kind” contributions to the network in addition to their annual monetary dues. These contributions shall be in the form of supporting their faculty, staff and their comprehensive depression center membership to participate in NNDC efforts and sub-entities like domain committees, task groups, panels etc.; sending representatives to NNDC meetings and events; and aiding in the network’s educational, research, and public policy efforts.
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