UC, Children's join $20 million statewide research effort

The Cincinnati Business Courier highlighted the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s being part of a collaborative research initiative designed to identify the root causes of the ongoing epidemic of persistent emotional distress, suicide and drug overdose in the state of Ohio. 

The SOAR Study investigates the role of underlying biological, psychological and social factors. SOAR is studying Ohioans in their local communities, using an integrated “bring science to the people” approach. It is creating a statewide medical research and development ecosystem to drive continued advances in mental health, substance use prevention and treatment interventions. 

The SOAR Study has two parallel but connected projects. 

Focusing on breadth, the SOAR Wellness Discovery Survey is engaging as many as 15,000 people across all 88 Ohio counties. Researchers want to uncover how strengths and skills may be related to overcoming adversity. Those strengths will inform researchers about which factors to focus on to develop new treatments. This portion is underway, with more than 300,000 postcards mailed out to residents statewide. 

Focusing on depth, the SOAR Brain Health Study will comprehensively study as many as 3,600 Ohioans in family groups to examine the biological, psychological and social factors that help explain response to adversity, with longer-term goals of personalizing individual care.  

“Better understanding biomarkers of risk and resilience among Cincinnatians is in line with our department’s vision to advance the understanding and treatment of psychiatric disorders,” said Cal Adler, MD, professor, vice chair of research, co-director of the Division of Bipolar Disorders Research, director of the Center for Imaging Research in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at UC’s College of Medicine and a UC Health physician. “We have already begun to enroll Ohio families and anticipate engaging over 200 participants over the next year.”

Read the Cincinnati Business Courier story. 

Read more about the study.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please reach out to the UC study coordinator, Rachel, at 513-558-5319.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.