Federal Grant Award Summary

The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital received a $726,423 Project Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865), effective July 1, 2026 through March 31, 2031. The award supports the development and evaluation of MINDGUARD, a multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning system designed to predict post-concussion mental health sequelae in youth aged 11-17. The project integrates multiple data sources including structured electronic health records (EHR) from approximately 20,000 youth concussion patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital (2013-2025), unstructured clinical notes, social determinants of health data, and small-scale nonclinical multimodal data collected prospectively from 150 youth participants using wearable and smart speaker devices in home settings.

The deliverables encompass four primary aims: (1) development of the MINDGUARD multimodal data collection system; (2) prospective collection of nonclinical data from youth concussion patients in home environments; (3) creation and evaluation of a risk prediction model for post-concussion mental health sequelae leveraging integrated large-scale EHR and small-scale nonclinical data; and (4) development and evaluation of a human-centered AI dashboard with explainable risk predictions to support clinician decision-making. The interdisciplinary research team aims to enable early detection and timely clinical referrals for at-risk youth, ultimately preventing adverse mental health outcomes and supporting optimal concussion recovery.