About

Bradley J. Barney, PhD, has a faculty appointment in the Pediatric Critical Care Division of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah's Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. He works in the Utah Data Coordinating Center as a faculty biostatistician, heavily involved with research networks supporting multicenter research. His research includes supporting multicenter trials such as the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative, and clinical trials within the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) focusing on treatments for asthma, wheezing, analgesic use in children with fractures, and imaging guidelines for children with headaches. He has also supported large prospective observational studies on youth concussion and pediatric multiple sclerosis, as well as multicenter clinical registries for these conditions. His statistical interests encompass Bayesian statistics and longitudinal data analysis, reflecting his focus on innovative analytical approaches to pediatric clinical research.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Surgery
• Internal medicine
• Physical therapy
• Medical emergency
• Clinical psychology
• Pediatrics
• Cardiology
• Psychology
• Emergency medicine
• Social psychology

Selected publications

• Building games into multicenter clinical trial systems to boost trial engagement

  Figshare · 2026-02-13

  otherOpen access

  Abstract Background Workplace gamification refers to the translation of ordinary work tasks into a fun thematic framework—using game design elements such as points, competition, and recognition—to enhance engagement and motivation. Clinical trials are lengthy and operationally demanding, leading to low enthusiasm and disengagement. As a trial coordinating center, we successfully put gamification to work as an engagement tool in a series of multicenter clinical trials. Methods We combined trial metadata with gamification and concepts around motivation to enhance how we engaged site teams responsible for trial activation, patient recruitment and retention, protocol compliance, and data quality. Using metrics routinely captured within trial data platforms, performance indicators were extracted and converted into point-based scoring systems. Gamified strategies were integrated into start-up and enrollment phases of each clinical trial, as both phases had measurable tasks with defined timelines. Results We successfully gamified the start-up tasks of seven trials and enrollment tasks of nine trials. As start-up tasks were similar, one game fits multiple trials. Gamification was customized, however, for enrollment processes and further adapted to address protocol-specific challenges and periods of suboptimal performance. Drawing from these experiences, we present a set of guidelines that outline key principles and gamification mechanics, serving as instructions for game development in this context. Conclusion Gamification guidelines afford a novel approach to align intrinsic motivators for achievement with existing trial infrastructure and performance metrics to enhance trial team engagement across diverse trial settings.

  PublisherDOI

• Additional file 1 of Building games into multicenter clinical trial systems to boost trial engagement

  Figshare · 2026-02-13

  articleOpen access

  Supplementary material 1. Detailed methods and considerations for game scoring and balance. Method 1: Simple Weighted Metric. Table 1: Simple Weighted Metric Example. Method 2: Time-Based Metric. Table 2: Time-Based Metric Example. Method 3: Percent-Based Metric. Table 3: Percent-Based Metric Example. Table 4: Scoring rules for the Tour De France Example as seen in Figure 1. A simple points game with scaling and non-scaling metrics. Table 5. List of start-up and enrollment period metrics and suggested methods to calculate them. The weight portion of the metric is a simple arbitrary multiplier used to balance the impact of the metrics in a game. Table 6: Scoring method of a threshold formatted version of the example Tour De France game. In this version of the game, the game is scored and presented monthly rather than scored live via a calculated dashboard.

  PublisherDOI

• Building games into multicenter clinical trial systems to boost trial engagement

  Figshare · 2026-02-13

  otherOpen access

  Abstract Background Workplace gamification refers to the translation of ordinary work tasks into a fun thematic framework—using game design elements such as points, competition, and recognition—to enhance engagement and motivation. Clinical trials are lengthy and operationally demanding, leading to low enthusiasm and disengagement. As a trial coordinating center, we successfully put gamification to work as an engagement tool in a series of multicenter clinical trials. Methods We combined trial metadata with gamification and concepts around motivation to enhance how we engaged site teams responsible for trial activation, patient recruitment and retention, protocol compliance, and data quality. Using metrics routinely captured within trial data platforms, performance indicators were extracted and converted into point-based scoring systems. Gamified strategies were integrated into start-up and enrollment phases of each clinical trial, as both phases had measurable tasks with defined timelines. Results We successfully gamified the start-up tasks of seven trials and enrollment tasks of nine trials. As start-up tasks were similar, one game fits multiple trials. Gamification was customized, however, for enrollment processes and further adapted to address protocol-specific challenges and periods of suboptimal performance. Drawing from these experiences, we present a set of guidelines that outline key principles and gamification mechanics, serving as instructions for game development in this context. Conclusion Gamification guidelines afford a novel approach to align intrinsic motivators for achievement with existing trial infrastructure and performance metrics to enhance trial team engagement across diverse trial settings.

  PublisherDOI

• Additional file 1 of Building games into multicenter clinical trial systems to boost trial engagement

  Figshare · 2026-02-13

  articleOpen access

  Supplementary material 1. Detailed methods and considerations for game scoring and balance. Method 1: Simple Weighted Metric. Table 1: Simple Weighted Metric Example. Method 2: Time-Based Metric. Table 2: Time-Based Metric Example. Method 3: Percent-Based Metric. Table 3: Percent-Based Metric Example. Table 4: Scoring rules for the Tour De France Example as seen in Figure 1. A simple points game with scaling and non-scaling metrics. Table 5. List of start-up and enrollment period metrics and suggested methods to calculate them. The weight portion of the metric is a simple arbitrary multiplier used to balance the impact of the metrics in a game. Table 6: Scoring method of a threshold formatted version of the example Tour De France game. In this version of the game, the game is scored and presented monthly rather than scored live via a calculated dashboard.

  PublisherDOI

• Building games into multicenter clinical trial systems to boost trial engagement

  Trials · 2026-02-13

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Workplace gamification refers to the translation of ordinary work tasks into a fun thematic framework-using game design elements such as points, competition, and recognition-to enhance engagement and motivation. Clinical trials are lengthy and operationally demanding, leading to low enthusiasm and disengagement. As a trial coordinating center, we successfully put gamification to work as an engagement tool in a series of multicenter clinical trials. METHODS: We combined trial metadata with gamification and concepts around motivation to enhance how we engaged site teams responsible for trial activation, patient recruitment and retention, protocol compliance, and data quality. Using metrics routinely captured within trial data platforms, performance indicators were extracted and converted into point-based scoring systems. Gamified strategies were integrated into start-up and enrollment phases of each clinical trial, as both phases had measurable tasks with defined timelines. RESULTS: We successfully gamified the start-up tasks of seven trials and enrollment tasks of nine trials. As start-up tasks were similar, one game fits multiple trials. Gamification was customized, however, for enrollment processes and further adapted to address protocol-specific challenges and periods of suboptimal performance. Drawing from these experiences, we present a set of guidelines that outline key principles and gamification mechanics, serving as instructions for game development in this context. CONCLUSION: Gamification guidelines afford a novel approach to align intrinsic motivators for achievement with existing trial infrastructure and performance metrics to enhance trial team engagement across diverse trial settings.

  PublisherDOI

• Study of the Association Between Menarche and Disease Course in Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis

  Neurology · 2025-02-03 · 3 citations

  article

  BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sex steroid hormones have been demonstrated to affect the immune system in multiple sclerosis (MS), and puberty may trigger MS activity. We aimed to evaluate the association between menarche and disease course in pediatric MS through comparison of relapse rates across premenarche, perimenarche, and postmenarche periods. METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively followed female cohort with pediatric-onset MS in the US Network of Pediatric MS Centers database. Perimenarche was considered the period from 1 year before to 1 year after the estimated menarche date based on menarche integer age. Relapses were collected prospectively. Negative binomial and repeated-measures Cox regression models were used to assess the association of pubertal development stage with relapse rate, adjusted for race, body mass index, and disease-modifying therapy (DMT). RESULTS: < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Onset of puberty may be a time of increase in disease activity and may require consideration of a change in therapeutic approach. Menarche age was used as a surrogate for puberty, and future studies measuring sex steroid hormones may be informative.

  PublisherDOI

• <scp>Intravenous Magnesium: Prompt use for Asthma in Children Treated in the Emergency Department</scp> (<scp>IMPACT</scp>‐<scp>ED</scp>), a pilot randomized trial

  Academic Emergency Medicine · 2025-03-17 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Asthma is the most common chronic illness of childhood and a leading cause of hospitalization and health care costs for children. Intravenous magnesium sulfate (IVMg) may help severely ill children avoid hospitalization when added to standard treatment in an emergency department (ED), but this has not been adequately evaluated in a large trial. We conducted a pilot trial to test procedures and gather information to plan a large multicenter trial. METHODS: Children 2-17 years old with severe acute asthma were randomized in a multicenter, double-blind, controlled trial of placebo (saline, 1 mL/kg, max 40 mL), low-dose IVMg (50 mg/kg, max 2 g), or high-dose IVMg (75 mg/kg, max 3 g) in addition to standard asthma therapy at the EDs of three tertiary pediatric hospitals between September 2022 and May 2023. We assessed the feasibility of delivering study drug within 90 min of treatment (defined as the start of the first inhaled albuterol) and monitoring for hypotension and obtained blood samples for pharmacologic analysis. Our target enrollment was one participant per site per week (90 total). RESULTS: A total of 52 patients were randomized, and 49 received study drug. Median (Q1, Q3) participant age was 6.3 (4.6, 9.6) years and 35 (67.3%) were male. Among 52 randomized participants, study drug was delivered within 90 min to 34 (65.4%), 486/542 (89.7%) anticipated blood pressure measurements were within time frames, 138/156 (88.5%) anticipated blood samples were obtained, and 38 (73.1%) were hospitalized. Hypotension was measured within 2 h of study drug administration in 2/18 (11.1%) who received placebo and 2/31 (6.5%) who received IVMg. CONCLUSIONS: Most anticipated blood pressure measurements and blood samples were obtained. Hypotension occurred at rates similar to previous reports. Lower-than-expected enrollment (related to low patient volumes) and timely delivery of study drug will require consideration for a larger trial.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Accelerating start-up cycles in investigator-initiated multicenter clinical trials

  Journal of Clinical and Translational Science · 2025-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Background: Operational roadblocks and organizational delays in multicenter clinical trials have been evident for decades, with the start-up cycle being especially notorious for setbacks. To address these challenges and improve multicenter clinical trial execution, we developed an accelerated start-up (ASU) management strategy – a structured site onboarding approach based on lean management principles. Methods: Three elements were integrated into the strategy: a standardized workflow, a dedicated site navigator (SN), and an electronic tracking system. We examined the range, central tendencies, and distribution of site activation times among differing combinations of these three elements. To determine how these combinations affected individual start-up milestones, we fit mixed models to compare percent achievement of predetermined milestone benchmarks and time to completion. Results: Thirteen consecutive trials ( n = 308 site activations) employed three distinct combinations of the three ASU elements. Trials using all three elements ( n = 6) had 160 total site activations in a median of 133 days. Three trials without the SN element had 52 total site activations in a median of 191 days. Four trials without the standardized workflow element had 96 total site activations in a median of 277 days. Significant differences between combinations included times to sIRB submission ( p = 0.004), training/certificates completion ( p = 0.03), and site activation ( p = 0.003). Results suggest sites activated faster and achieved predetermined benchmarks for every milestone more often when three elements were employed. Conclusion: This sample trial start-up data supports that sites can meet ambitious timelines, underscoring the strategy’s potential to streamline workflows and improve site team performance.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pediatric self-reported pain outcomes via texting following emergency department discharge: How does it compare to parent's perception?

  Paediatrics & Child Health · 2025-12-05

  articleOpen access

  ABSTRACT Objectives Compare child and parent text message reporting of pain outcomes following emergency department (ED) discharge. Methods Children 8 to 17 years, discharged from the ED with long-bone fracture, whose parent was enrolled in the multicenter study to report their child's pain and function outcomes (R01HD091302) were enrolled in this single-center study between April 2021 and February 2022. Both respondents reported pain-related dysfunction (scale: 0 to 10), maximum pain (scale: 0 to 10), and medication dissatisfaction (scale: 1 to 4) for 7 days by text message. Average differences in outcomes between respondents were tested using a paired t-test and mixed models. Text response rate was evaluated. Results Overall, 80 child-parent dyads were included, and 80% of children texted reports on at least 1 day, 74% for ≥3 days, and 45% for all 7 days. Parents’ overall response rate was 91% for at least 1 day, 80% for ≥3 days, and 44% for all 7 days. Compared to parents, child reports were not different for the child's dysfunction score (difference = 0.21 points, 95% CI: −0.03, 0.44; P-value = 0.086) but were higher for child's maximum pain score (0.31 points, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.52; P-value = 0.006) and dissatisfaction score (0.22, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.30; P-value = &amp;lt;0.001). Discussion Children ages 8 to 17 years can report at-home pain experiences by text message at rates comparable to their parents. Children report significantly higher pain severity and dissatisfaction with pain medications, but dysfunction was similar compared to parent's report. Children and their parents can text message their at-home acute pain experiences after ED discharge.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among gender‐minority adolescents in the emergency department

  Academic Emergency Medicine · 2025-01-17 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: Gender-minority youth, whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth, have elevated suicide risk compared to cisgender youth, yet few studies examine their suicide risk in the emergency department (ED). Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of and assess risk and protective factors associated with prior suicide attempt (SA) and recent suicide ideation (SI) among gender-minority adolescents in the ED. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of gender-minority adolescents in the Emergency Department Screening for Teens at Risk for Suicide (ED-STARS) multicenter, random-series prospective cohort study. Prior SA and recent SI were based on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and Ask Suicide-Screening Questions, respectively. We conducted Firth's logistic regressions to assess risk and protective factors associated with prior SA and recent SI. RESULTS: Of 6641 adolescent participants in ED-STARS, 280 (4.2%) identified as gender minority. Of the gender minorities, 72% presented with a nonpsychiatric complaint, 37% admitted to a prior SA, and 25% reported recent SI. Prior SA was associated with the number of self-harm methods in the prior 12 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-1.9), sexual minority (aOR 5.0, 95% CI 2.5-10.6), and mother's history of prior SA (aOR 3.6, 95% CI 1.5-9.2). Recent SI was associated with hopelessness (aOR 4.2, 95% CI 1.5-13.9), lower positive affect (aOR 0.9, 95% CI 0.8-1.0), sexual minority (aOR 8.3, 95% CI 2.5-37.8), five or more self-harm events in the prior 12 months (aOR 4.9, 95% CI 2.1-11.6), and number of illicit drug classes (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.2). CONCLUSIONS: Among gender-minority ED adolescent patients, one in three experienced a SA prior to the ED visit. One in four endorsed SI within 2 weeks of the ED visit. The identified risk and protective factors among gender-minority adolescents may inform future ED-based efforts to detect and reduce suicide risk.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• T. Charles Casper

  University of Utah Health Care

  9 shared

• Valen E. Johnson

  9 shared

• Filippo Aureli

  Universidad Veracruzana

  7 shared

• Federica Amici

  Leipzig University

  7 shared

• Josep Call

  University of St Andrews

  7 shared

• Teri Schreiner

  University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation

  6 shared

• Mark Gorman

  6 shared

• Leslie Benson

  Boston Children's Hospital

  6 shared