JGPerpich, LLC (JGP), through small business contracts with the United States National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) International Program and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), is developing an Internet-based “Collaboration Matching Service” (CMS). The CMS was developed to meet the NIDA International Program need to identify common research interests and to initiate collaborations among domestic and international mental health and drug abuse scientists. NIDA supported the design and development of the CMS, and NIMH is providing additional funding to continue its development. Throughout the design process, JGP has been incorporating feedback from current members of the NIDA International Virtual Collaboratory (NIVC). 

JGP has designed a database with information on people, organizations, projects, and opportunities. On an ongoing basis, the database will be populated with information from the profile directories in the NIDA International Virtual Collaboratory (NIVC, http://nivc.perpich.com) and the NIMH Virtual Collaboratory for Suicide Studies (VCSS, http://vcss.perpich.com), NIH CRISP, registrants at current and past NIDA International Forums, and other relevant databases, as identified by NIDA and NIMH program staff and consultants. All individuals listed in the CMS will be able to edit their own information, add new information as it becomes available, or opt out of participation, through membership in NIVC or the VCSS.

Members of the Virtual Collaboratories will be able to search the CMS database for people, organizations, projects and job opportunities by a combination of criteria, including geographic region, individual country, or by keywords identifying topics of interest. Information for all the people, projects, organizations and job opportunities will be provided on screen (using any popular web browser) as well as in downloadable printed reports.

JGP will demonstrate the Collaboration Matching Service at the 2009 NIDA International Forum in Reno, Nevada, on Saturday afternoon, June 20, 2009. We look forward to meeting you there and hearing your feedback on the design and functionality of this exciting new matching software.  Please note we will be sending you a second email shortly to give you an opportunity to submit your own project descriptions.