The STARR Coalition

05/07/2026

The STARR Coalition May Newsletter is out now! 💚

This month: Mental Health Awareness Month resources for sites, the latest research news, site spotlights, ICYMI, and more.

Read it here → https://conta.cc/3OTGiZe

Email from The STARR Coalition Mental Health Awareness Month, CBHCs and Research, Latest Site News, ICYMI news, and more!   STARR News & Updates May 2026 Every May, communities across the country turn

05/07/2026

Today is National Brain Donation Awareness Day. 🧠

Brain donation is one of the most powerful gifts a person can make to future generations - and one of the least understood. A single donated brain can provide tissue for dozens, sometimes hundreds, of research studies. And here's something many people don't know: healthy brains are just as needed as those affected by neurological conditions.

The Brain Donor Project just launched a new section of their website specifically designed to help clinicians, advocates, and patient-facing professionals start these conversations with the people they serve.

If you work in mental health care or clinical research, this is worth bookmarking.

🔗 https://braindonorproject.org/professionals/

Please SHARE to help build trust and awareness in mental health clinical research. 💚

05/06/2026

Tomorrow is Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day. 💚

Older adults are among the most underserved populations in mental health care - and among the most underrepresented in clinical research.

Tomorrow is a good moment to ask:

Is your site actually reaching them?
Are your materials accessible?
Is your outreach going beyond digital channels?
Are you making it easy for older adults and their caregivers to participate?

Tomorrow, the National Council on Aging is hosting a free virtual symposium with sessions on su***de prevention, community-based mental health, and evidence-based programs.

There's still time to register.

Learn more and find resources for your site.

🔗 https://thestarr.org/news/older-adult-mental-health-awareness-day/

Please SHARE to help build trust and awareness in mental health clinical research. 💚

05/04/2026

An estimated 800,000 adults in the U.S. live with Tardive Dyskinesia. About 60% don't know it. 💚

This week is TD Awareness Week - and for anyone working with patients on long-term psychiatric medications, it's a critical moment to pause and ask: are we recognizing TD when it's in the room?

TD is underdiagnosed, underscreened, and too often dismissed as something patients just learn to live with. But it doesn't have to be. Awareness is the first step -and research sites are uniquely positioned to make a difference.

Learn more and find resources for your site and community this week.

🔗 https://thestarr.org/news/tardive-dyskinesia-awareness-week/

Please SHARE to help build trust and awareness in mental health clinical research. 💚

05/01/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month — and it starts today. 💚

For clinical research sites, this month is one of the biggest opportunities of the year to show up for the communities you serve. Children's Mental Health Week, Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week, Mental Health Action Day, Clinical Trials Day, World Schizophrenia Day, NAMICon — there's something meaningful happening every single week.

We've put together a full guide to help you plan, engage, and take action all month long — with resources and action steps for each date.

Bookmark it. Share it with your team. And use it. 💚

🔗 https://thestarr.org/news/may-is-mental-health-awareness-month/

Please SHARE to help build trust and awareness in mental health clinical research.

04/29/2026

What does it take to build real trust between clinical research and the communities it serves? 💚

Last week, The STARR Coalition hosted an Insider Session, Creating a Connected Community, bringing together voices from pharma, clinical research sites, and the nonprofit world to explore what genuine partnership actually looks like in practice.

The conversation was honest, practical, and hopeful. A few things that stuck:
→ Trust isn't built through contracts. It's built through consistency.
→ Communities don't exist to serve research. Research should serve communities.
→ Showing up only when you need participants isn't community engagement. It's recruitment.

Read the recap and share with anyone working at the intersection of research and community. 💚

🔗 https://thestarr.org/news/creating-a-connected-community/

Please SHARE to help build trust and awareness in mental health clinical research.

04/28/2026

Did you miss our April newsletter?

We’re proud to feature Dr. Shishuka Malhotra, recipient of the 2025 STARR Lew Yagodnik Award, and highlight her incredible leadership and advocacy in mental health.

Take a moment to catch up on updates from our Certified Sites, the latest news, and more!

Email from The STARR Coalition National Volunteer Month, Latest Site News, ICYMI news, and more!   STARR News & Updates April 2026 Dr. Shishuka Malhotra Honored with the 2025 STARR Lew Yagodnik Award

04/27/2026

One shot. Once a month. No 3-hour wait. 💉

The FDA has accepted a new application for an investigational once-monthly olanzapine injection for adults living with schizophrenia — and unlike current options, early trial data shows it may not require the lengthy post-injection monitoring that makes today's long-acting formulations hard to access.

For patients who rely on olanzapine, this could be a real game-changer for staying on treatment consistently.

This is what clinical research makes possible. Please SHARE to help build trust and awareness. 💚

🔗 https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/nda-accepted-olanzapine-extended-release-injectable-suspension-for-treatment-of-schizophrenia

The FDA accepts Teva’s once-monthly olanzapine injection for schizophrenia, promising steadier adherence without mandatory 3-hour monitoring.

04/24/2026

Next week is Patient Experience Week! 🩺💙
April 27 - May 1, 2026

Patient Experience Week celebrates everyone who makes a positive impact on patient care - clinical staff, patient experience teams, volunteers, administrative staff, and community partners.

Why this matters for mental health research:
Patient experience and research participant experience go hand in hand. When people feel heard, respected, and supported during a clinical trial, they're more likely to complete the study, share honest feedback, and encourage others to participate in research.

Clinical researchers and advocates:
Use this week to:
- Recognize staff who prioritize participant experience
- Thank the volunteers and support staff who make research possible
- Reflect on how your site treats research participants
- Share positive participant experience stories

Every person on your research team, from the receptionist to the principal investigator, contributes to building trust in clinical research.

Patient Experience Week is the perfect time to celebrate that.

Learn more: patientexperiencenetwork.org/resources/patient-experience-week/

Patient Experience Week is an opportunity to celebrate the people who have positive impact on the patient experience. In 2026, Patient Experience Week is Mon 27th April – Friday 1st May.

04/20/2026

One dose. Lasting relief for 26 weeks. 🧠

New Phase 3 data from Compass Pathways shows that a single administration of their psilocybin-based therapy for treatment-resistant depression maintained its effect at least through week 26 - after just one or two doses.

For the millions of people who haven't responded to traditional antidepressants, findings like this represent real hope. And they don't happen without clinical research participation.

This is why the work of mental health research sites matters. Every participant, every study, every data point moves us closer to better options for people who need them most.

Read more → https://www.biospace.com/drug-development/compass-psychedelic-shows-durability-in-spades-as-path-to-fda-clears

Please SHARE to help build trust and awareness in mental health clinical research. 💚

Evidence of durability of psilocybin-based COMP360 is a key point for the FDA, according to Compass Pathways Chief Medical Officer Guy Goodwin. By providing 26 weeks’ worth of such data instead of the requested 12, the company is delivering “in spades,” he said.

04/17/2026

April is Stress Awareness Month! 🧠💙

Stress isn't just an inevitable part of life - it's a mental health issue that affects millions and is linked to depression, anxiety, and other conditions.

Why this matters:
Clinical research is actively studying how chronic stress affects mental health and exploring new interventions that build resilience and reduce stress-related symptoms.

Clinical researchers and advocates, we encourage you to:
- Share stress management resources with your communities
- Talk about the connection between stress and mental health
- Normalize conversations about stress before it becomes crisis
- Connect people with support services and research opportunities

Education about stress management isn't just wellness - it's prevention.

Get practical tips for managing stress: stress.org/news/stress-awareness-month-tips-for-keeping-tensions-in-check/

April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month to bring attention to the negative impact of stress. Managing stress is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Knowing how to manage stress can improve mental and physical well-being as well as minimize exacerbation of health-related iss...