Bridge Lab
Dr. Bridge’s lab focuses on the epidemiology of suicidal behavior in young people and neurocognitive vulnerability to suicidal behavior, as well as improving the quality of care for suicidal youth and adolescents who have attempted suicide. Dr. Bridge’s research interests also involve vulnerability factors of adolescent suicidal behavior, benefits and risks of pediatric psychotropic medication use, and research aimed at improving the identification, emergency management, and follow-up care of youth at risk for suicide.
Dr. Bridge receives funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) for his research on youth suicide.
Current Research Studies
- Pre-START/START – PCORI multi-site observational study comparing inpatient psychiatric treatment to outpatient crisis intervention services, both in-person and via telehealth.
- Suicide Risk in Public Child Serving Systems – NIH R01-funded population-based study that links data across multiple Ohio child-serving agencies to identify periods of high risk and predictors of youth suicide.
- BRAINS - NIH R01-funded prospective longitudinal follow-up study of impulsive aggression, neurocognition, and suicidal behavior in depressed youth.
Lab Staff
Jeff Bridge, PhD
Director, Center for Suicide Prevention and Research
Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair of Innovation in Behavioral Health Research,
Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Professor of Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health,
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Jeff.Bridge@NationwideChildrens.org
Jeff Bridge, PhD, is an epidemiologist and director of the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Nationwide Foundation Chair in Behavioral Health Research, and Professor of Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. His research focuses on the epidemiology of suicide and suicidal behavior in young people, neurocognitive vulnerability to suicidal behavior, screening for suicide risk in medical and school settings, and on improving the quality of care for suicidal youth.
Elizabeth Cannon, MA, MS, LPCC-S
Clinical Counselor Research Coordinator
Elizabeth.Cannon@NationwideChildrens.org
Elizabeth is a compassionate, data-driven clinical lead supervisor and suicide prevention specialist with five years of experience in the planning, creation, implementation and evaluation of the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research supplement to the SOS Signs of Suicide Program in Ohio middle and high schools. Elizabeth began her career at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in research over 11 years ago as a research associate with Dr. Jeff Bridge. She was the site coordinator for the three-site study that validated the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) suicide risk screening tool. Elizabeth is also a psychotherapist with eight years of experience in counseling adolescents with mood and anxiety disorders, parent coaching and trauma-informed behavioral therapy for young children.
Avery Abel
Research Assistant
Avery.Abel@NationwideChildrens.org
Avery works as a research assistant in the Bridge Lab. Avery is a graduate of Tufts University, earning his bachelor's degree in Biopsychology in 2022. His studies have fostered research interests related to neurobiology, evolutionary psychology, mental and behavioral health, and global and public health equity. Avery is a Columbus native and enjoys volunteering for local non-profits focused on social equity and inter-cultural engagement.
Clinical Research Program Coordinator
Nikhitha.Kakarala@NationwideChildrens.org
Nikki is a graduate of Miami University and has a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. She has five years of patient care experience working with children and adolescents in the outpatient psychiatry setting. Nikki is passionate about giving back to the community through mentoring and volunteering. She believes that evidence-based research is crucial to improving the lives of children within the community and nationwide.
Emily Stephens
Research Assistant
Emily.Stephens@NationwideChildrens.org
Emily is a research assistant in the Bridge Lab interested in expanding mental health care for all children and reducing the stigma around mental health. Emily received her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and Psychology from The Ohio State University, with a minor in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Emily Hart
Clinical Research Program Coordinator
Emily.Hart@NationwideChildrens.org
Emily is a clinical research coordinator for the Bridge Lab in the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research. Emily has experiences in direct patient care, leadership and operations within various behavioral health settings. Her research interests center around impacting disproportionate suicide rates in rural areas. Emily graduated from Muskingum University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and minor in Sociology. She also received a master of healthcare innovation degree from The Ohio State University.
Franky Rife
Clinical Research Program Coordinator
Franky.Rife@NationwideChildrens.org
Franky is a clinical research program coordinator for the Bridge Lab at the Center for Suicide Prevention and Research. She graduated from Ohio University in 2021 with her master of arts in Sociology. Her areas of concentration include intersectional approaches to studying structural inequality. In her current role, she is interested in investigating how these inequalities contribute to disparities in adolescent suicide rates.