Call for OPAL Pilot Projects

Due: March 23, 2026

The OPAL Center supports research that tests innovative ways to accelerate the development and implementation of effective, individualized treatments for schizophrenia in real clinical settings.

OPAL seeks project concepts for its pilot research program. This competitive program will select projects with clear potential to lead to larger, externally funded research initiatives. Investigators whose concepts are selected will be asked to submit a full (5 page) application and detailed budget.

Funding amount:  Up to $25,000 Direct Cost per award, with additional technical support from OPAL Cores.

Core Utilization: Use of OPAL Core services is strongly encouraged and will be viewed as responsive to this announcement.

Selection: Concepts will be evaluated on scientific merit, fit with OPAL goals, and feasibility for completion within one year. Preference is given to projects that are likely to generate preliminary data for NIH grant applications. For the current cycle (spring 2026) we encourage studies that leverage existing datasets, registries, or administrative/clinical data and that do not require new participant recruitment or data collection. Early-stage investigators are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility: Projects must include a member of the Columbia faculty. Postdoctoral fellows and external collaborators at OPAL-affiliated institutions are eligible with a Columbia faculty sponsor or co-investigator. Projects must include an early-career investigator. Awardees will be expected to participate in OPAL educational activities as well as the OPAL Annual Meeting.

Instructions: One-page concepts should include a brief statement of the problem, the hypotheses to be tested or questions to be explored, a description of any existing data sources to be used (e.g., registries, EHR, public datasets), methods, sample size and NIMH or OPAL priorities to be addressed. Please include a cover page listing principal and co-investigators, faculty status, departmental affiliation, and budget requested. Also include the NIH biosketch of principal investigator(s).

Submit concepts by March 23, 2026 to Xiaoyan Xu, PhD, at xiaoyan.xu@nyspi.columbia.edu. For further information, please contact Scott Stroup, OPAL Center PI at scott.stroup@nyspi.columbia.edu.

Full applications for selected projects will be due April 30, 2026.