Zapata Awarded Eisenberg Pilot to Study Youth Mental Health
Juan Zapata, PhD, assistant professor of Medical Social Sciences, has received the 2025 Esienberg Pilot Award.
The Eisenberg Awards — facilitated by from the Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute — aim to support innovative projects that bridge the gap between research laboratories and the clinical introduction of new therapies or devices, ultimately benefiting patients.
“As an early career faculty member, this recognition is an incredible milestone and a meaningful affirmation of the work I am passionate about,” says Zapata, A NUCATS member and associate director of the Lab for Scalable Mental Health. “This award not only allows me to advance my research portfolio but also provides critical support for collecting preliminary data on an intervention designed to assist youth at risk for suicide during their most vulnerable moments.”
Zapata completed his PhD in Clinical Psychology at Marquette University in 2022 and completed his doctoral internship in Health Psychology at the University of Washington. Additionally, he was an NIH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow in Translational Science, HIV, and Sexual and Gender Minority Health at the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (grant number T32MH130325).
This award not only allows me to advance my research portfolio but also provides critical support for collecting preliminary data on an intervention designed to assist youth at risk for suicide during their most vulnerable moments.”
Zapata’s research addresses the critical lack of accessible mental healthcare for youth, particularly transgender and nonbinary (TNB) youth, who face unique barriers such as fear of disclosure, lack of affirming services, and stigma. Past studies have shown that most TNB youth in the U.S. who report past suicidal thoughts and behaviors do not receive any mental health services. To address this, the Lab for Scalable Mental Health, led by Jessica Schleider, PhD, develops and evaluates brief, scalable interventions, with a focus on single session supports to promote mental health.
Zapata’s Eisenberg Pilot project will adapt and integrate two existing interventions into a single, enhanced intervention specifically designed for TNB youth. This enhanced intervention, called RISE-E, will be co-designed with TNB youth to incorporate elements addressing minority stress, a well-documented risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
“This project feels especially timely and urgent, given the heightened risks facing transgender and nonbinary youth. Research shows that TNB youth are 3.7 to 6.3 times more likely to report suicidal ideation in the past year compared to their peers,” says Zapata. “This already significant disparity is further exacerbated by recent political and societal challenges, which put this community at even greater risk.”
Zapata believes single-session interventions (SSIs) offer a promising solution to address this disparity. These structured programs are designed to provide meaningful, evidence-based care in just one visit, making them a practical option for those who might otherwise have no access to mental health services. The Lab for Scalable Mental Health is dedicated to bridging this gap and currently offers free access to a range of SSIs, which have been shown to improve various patient outcomes.
“Receiving this award means so much more than advancing my research — it represents a valuable opportunity to address a pressing public health issue and to work towards meaningful, science-driven solutions that can make a tangible difference in the lives of TNB youth,” says Zapata.”For me and the members of my lab, it is a validation of our commitment to research that not only deepens understanding but also translates into impactful interventions in real-world settings.”
Written by Roger Anderson
