VU University Amsterdam (Netherlands)

The VU/VUmc is a large, state funded University with over 26.000 students and over 2.000 academic staff. The University was founded in 1880 and throughout the past century it has continued to expand. It now comprises twelve faculties, at which research in a wide variety of technical, natural and humanitarian disciplines is conducted. The VUA participates in two national research centres of excellence and forty accredited research schools. The high quality of research at VUA has been repeatedly recognized by visiting evaluation commissions.

The Clinical Psychology Department of the VU/VUmc is part of the Faculty of Psychology and Education which hosts eleven Research Programs and is engaged in various interdisciplinary Research Institutes. The Clinical Psychology department is one of the leading research groups in eMental health worldwide and has ample experience with performing randomized controlled trials examining the (cost) effectiveness of (online) interventions. The department is further well-known for its expertise in conducting metaanalyses and has published a series of meta-analytic studies on psychotherapy for adult depression.

We collaborate closely with researchers in Australia, Sweden, the UK and the US and have an important role in the International, European, and Netherland Society of Internet Researchers (ISRII, ESRII, NSRII). Our group has shown to be successful in obtaining national and European funding. The department is embedded in the EMGO research institute for health and care research (EMGO+) that received the highest possible ratings on all counts by an international committee in 2011.

VUA team members:

Name: Prof. dr. Heleen Riper
Organisation: Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, VU University Amsterdam and Leuphana University, Lüneburg, Germany
Title: Professor eMental-health

Role in project
Overall:
Supervision and development of trial protocol and analysis framework. Supervision of the overall study evaluation. Liaison with relevant stakeholders and the Scientific Committee.
Specific role in WPs:
WP3: Supervision and fine-tuning study objectives and research questions, development and operationalization of minimal set of indicators for the analysis of the implementation and up scaling trials. Supervision of the development of the evaluation framework. Supervision of and advise on overall analysis. Setting-up and liaison with Scientific Committee.
WP5: Advice in execution and analysis of local and overall study results.

Expertise relevant to project
Development, (cost)-effectiveness and implementation of innovative new media interventions for common mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety and problem drinking. e-Mental health; psychology; innovation; e-health;

Name: Christiaan Vis, MA
Organisation: Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, VU University Amsterdam
Title: Research Associate
Email: p.d.c.vis@vu.nl

Role in project
Overall:
Design of the trial protocol and analysis framework. Operationalizing the indicators for assessing and evaluating the implementation and up-scaling trials. Overall study evaluation. Acting as liaison with Scientific Committee.
Specific role in WPs:
WP3: Fine tuning study objectives and research questions, development and operationalization of minimal set of indicators for the analysis of the implementation and up scaling trials. Development of the analysis framework. Perform and report the overall scientific analysis. Setting-up and maintaining contact with Scientific Committee.
WP5: Advice in execution and analysis of local studies.

Expertise relevant to project
Dissemination and Implementation Science, Innovation management, quantitative and qualitative analyses, statistical evaluation.

Name: Eirini Karyotaki, M.Sc. Res
Organisation: Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, VU University Amsterda
Title: PhD candidate
Email: e.karyotaki@vu.nl

Role in project
Overall: Development of the trial protocol and framework for analysis. Data synthesis and analysis.
Specific role in WPs:
WP3: Fine tuning study objectives and research questions, development and operationalization of minimal set of indicators for the analysis of the implementation and up scaling trials. Development of the analysis framework. Perform and report the overall scientific analysis.
WP5: Advice in execution and analysis of local studies.

Expertise relevant to project
Specialised in statistical methods and the synthesis and analysis of different datasets. Development of trial protocols for research on the efficacy/effectiveness of psychological interventions for depression.