Cleveland Clinic and MQ Foundation By: Jenna HomrockSeptember 17, 2025 Launch Youth Mental Health Research Initiative
- GAB NEWS
- Dec 14, 2025
- 2 min read
By: Jenna Homrock
September 17, 2025
Cleveland Clinic has announced the launch of the Mental Health Research Center of Excellence, in collaboration with the MQ Foundation and its partner organization MQ Mental Health Research, global nonprofits dedicated to advancing research that detects, prevents, and treats mental illness.Supported by a $1 million grant from the MQ Foundation, with additional funding from Cleveland Clinic, the five-year initiative will focus on prevention and early intervention in youth mental health conditions, including depression, suicidal behaviors, and mood disorders. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to improving mental health outcomes for children, adolescents and young adults, through research and innovation.“Investing in mental health research is an investment in stronger, healthier communities,” said Michael Horvitz, President of the MQ Foundation and a trustee of Cleveland Clinic. “This partnership is an important step in addressing decades of chronic underfunding in this field. By starting here in Cleveland, we hope to show what’s possible and inspire others to join us in expanding this effort to leading medical institutions across the country.”Tatiana Falcone, M.D., a pediatric and adolescent psychiatrist at Cleveland Clinic Children’s, will serve as principal investigator for the initiative. Dr. Falcone will lead a cross-disciplinary team of clinical and non-clinical researchers focused on uncovering new insights into the neurological factors that influence youth mental health.The study will specifically explore the neurological basis of hopelessness and its connection to mental health risks among young people ages 14 to 24. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques, researchers aim to identify biomarkers that may help predict risk levels and guide more personalized treatment approaches. The research will also evaluate the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), an evidence-based intervention designed to reduce feelings of hopelessness and improve mental health outcomes for at-risk youth.“This initiative marks an important step forward in youth mental health research,” said Dr. Falcone. “Our work has the potential to enhance how we identify and treat suicide risk in young people, leading to more targeted, effective, and ultimately lifesaving care.”
By combining Cleveland Clinic’s clinical and research expertise with MQ Foundation’s commitment to advancing mental health research globally, this initiative seeks to accelerate progress and establish a scalable model for expanding youth mental health research nationwide.
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