Competition in the 2025 ACCP Clinical Research Challenge (CRC) began in February with 79 teams vying for a spot in Round 2: Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission. Teams achieving the top 40 scores after the initial online Journal Club round submitted an LOI. Teams achieving the top 20 scores after round 2 were invited to compete in Round 3: Research Protocol Development. Teams were tasked with developing a research proposal designed to demonstrate the value of clinical pharmacy–led services and/or initiatives in an area of psychiatry/mental health services. Teams were provided with a specific research environment in which to formulate their proposals.
The proposals were reviewed by the CRC Review Panel, and submissions ranking in the top one-third were referred to the CRC Oversight Panel for evaluation. Please join ACCP in congratulating the finalist teams and the award winners.
2025 ACCP Clinical Research Challenge Finalist Teams:
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy
University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy
University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
University of Michigan College of Pharmacy
University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy
University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
2025 ACCP Clinical Research Challenge Awards:
Championship Team: University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy
Proposal Title: Tapering Antidepressants with Pharmacist-Led Exponential Reduction (TAPER): A Pilot Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing Structured Proportional Tapering for SSRI Discontinuation
Student Team: Sami Gangji, team leader; J.T. Berard-Moore; Hailey Joo
Faculty Adviser: Nicole Asal, Pharm.D., BCPS
Second-Place Team: University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy
Proposal Title: Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Led Meds-to-Beds Program in Patients with Psychiatric Disorders
Student Team: Ashley Klancko, team leader; Abigail Serrano; Jenna-Lynn Kelley
Faculty Adviser: William Baker, Pharm.D., FCCP
Third-Place Team: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy
Proposal Title: Implementing Clinical Pharmacy Services with a Geriatric Psychiatry Team: Impact on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
Student Team: Dakota Tucker, team leader; Madison Trombley; Allison Sanders
Faculty Adviser: J. Mark Ruscin, Pharm.D.
Fourth-Place Team: University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Proposal Title: The Impact of a Pharmacist-Led Psychotropic Stewardship Program on Cardiometabolic Risk in Patients with Severe Mental Illness
Student Team: Madison Tran, team leader; Ethan Diks; Mih Nguyen
Faculty Adviser: Kristen Janzen, Pharm.D., BCPS
These teams are invited to present their research design during a poster session at the 2025 ACCP Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In addition, each student member of these teams will receive a complimentary Annual Meeting registration. For complete competition information, click here.
Please join ACCP in recognizing and thanking the many members of ACCP for their contributions and service to the College in advancing this important program for our student members.
CRC Oversight Panel
Sandra Benavides, Pharm.D., FCCP
Doug Fish, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, BCCCP
Anne Hume, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS
Irene La-Beck, Pharm.D.
Beth Phillips, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS
Tiffany Pon, Pharm.D., BCPS
Journal Club Author Panel
Carol Heunisch, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCP
Pam Ku, Pharm.D., BCPS
Dan Majerczyk, Pharm.D., BCPS, BC-ADM, CACP
Dianne May, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS
Journal Club Review Panel
Allison Bernknopf, Pharm.D., BCPS
Timothy Gladwell, Pharm.D., BCACP, BCCP, BCPS
CRC Review Panel
Jacob Brown, Pharm.D.
Brooke Buffat, Pharm.D., BCPS
Kyle Burghardt, Pharm.D.
Daniel Crona, Pharm.D., PhD
Robert DiDomenico Jr, Pharm.D., FCCP
Abigail Elmes, Pharm.D., MHPE, BCPS
James Hoehns, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS
Kelly Lee, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPP
Abbie Leino, Pharm.D., BCPS
Gregory Malat, Pharm.D., BCPS
Tien Ng, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS
Philip Rodgers, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS
James Stevenson, Pharm.D., MS, BCPP
Rebecca H. Stone, Pharm.D., BDDP, BCACP, BCPS
Chad VanDenBerg, Pharm.D., BCPP
For complete information on the Clinical Research Challenge, visit http://www.accp.com/stunet/crc/eligibility.aspx.