News

The Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg and Family Depression Center has awarded nearly $400,000 in Impact Grants to support four research teams at the University of Michigan that aim to help us better understand depressive illness.

“Addressing complex issues, like depression and mental well-being, requires collaboration, often at the intersection of disciplines,” said Srijan Sen, M.D., Ph.D., director, Eisenberg Family Depression Center. “These grants will help us support the collaborative efforts of researchers across the University and will accelerate scientific discoveries that will advance our understanding, treatment and prevention of depression and related challenges.”

Impact Grants support forward-thinking U-M scholars who are interested in accelerating mental health research. Nearly 40 letters of intent were received and reviewed by the Center’s Liaison Committee (LINC). After a rigorous selection process, four projects were funded. The 2024-25 Impact Grant recipients include:  
 

Eisenberg Family Depression Center Impact Award, $100,000

• Recipient: Lindsay Bornheimer, Ph.D., associate professor, School of Social Work, principal investigator
• Project title: Modifying and Testing an Intervention to Increase Use of the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Among Community Mental Health Patients with Bipolar Disorder
• Research description: This project will work with community members to test a simple, one-time support session for people with bipolar disorder, called crisis line facilitation (CLF). The goal of CLF is to encourage more people to use resources like 988, the Suicide & Crisis lifeline, to lower the risk of suicide attempts. The result will help the research team improve this intervention for people living with bipolar disorder and plan for larger-scale research so it can be more widely used in communities.

Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg Emerging Scholars Award, $99,983

• Recipients: Lara Coughlin, Ph.D., assistant professor, and Devin Tomlinson, Ph.D., post-doctoral research fellow, Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, co-principal investigators
• Project title: Incentives for Behavior Change: An Equity-Focused mHealth Intervention to Support Smoking and Alcohol Reduction Among People with Mood Disorders
• Research description: This project aims to help people with mood disorders, like bipolar disorder and depression, who struggle with substance use disorder. Participants will receive a wearable sensor that detects alcohol use and use an intervention program that rewards healthy choices. This will test whether sensor devices that detect substances combined with mood-related messages is an effective approach and if people find it helpful and easy to use. 

John F. Greden, M.D. Legacy Research Award, $99,803

• Recipients: David Fresco, Ph.D., professor, Department of Psychiatry, Medical School; and Amit Bernstein, Ph.D., professor, Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, co-principal investigators
• Project title: Simulated Thought Therapeutics: Own-Voice Re-Appraisal of Negative Self-Referential Thoughts
• Research description: Distress is a significant problem that accompanies many mental health challenges. It often appears as persistent negative thoughts that can make treatment less effective. This project will use a type of emotional regulation therapy (ERT) that combines emotion science, cognitive behavioral principles and mindfulness to address emotional distress. The aim is to make ERT more effective by understanding how the treatment teaches patients to better use these skills. Participants will hear recordings of their own voice to mimic their inner thoughts, which will help them learn to apply ERT skills in everyday life.

Eisenberg Translational Research Award, $97,350

• Recipients: Elliot Tapper, M.D., associate professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, principal investigator
• Project title: RESTORE: Remote Electrical Stimulation for Pain and Depression Treatment in Cirrhosis
• Research description: Three of the four leading causes of losing time to disability are related to chronic pain conditions. These conditions can interfere with patients' day-to-day lives and cause depression. Doctors often prescribe treatment methods that do not include medications. Patients are also interested in these treatments, but want proof that these approaches will work for people like them. This project will see if a technique called transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) can help people with complex pain issues. TEA uses a gentle electrical current to different points on the body to reduce pain.

How to apply for an Impact Grant

The 2025-26 cycle of Impact Grants will be announced later this spring. A streamlined application process makes it easy for investigators to get started. Learn more about the program.

Supporting high-impact research 

Impact Grants are made possible through funding provided by generous donors. Learn more about how you can support mental health research.