Project ECHO® Superhub
The Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB) and the University of Minnesota serve as an official Project ECHO® Superhub, joining a select group of global leaders authorized to train and prepare organizations to launch their own Project ECHO® programs. Through this designation, we aim to expand specialized care in rural and underserved communities while advancing implementation science to quickly bring new discoveries into local practice.
Project ECHO® programs connect University of Minnesota experts with local care providers, educators, and community staff through regular online video sessions. Instead of a traditional lecture, it’s a collaborative space where local teams receive guidance on real cases, and faculty learn directly from the community's experience.
Integrating Project ECHO® into Research and Dissemination
It often takes years for research discoveries to reach everyday clinical practice—and speeding up that process is central to MIDB’s mission. Incorporating Project ECHO® into research projects provides a validated framework to shorten that timeline. Investigators, clinicians, and program leaders can leverage established networks to test implementation strategies, evaluate provider self-efficacy, and study health equity outcomes across diverse regions.
Integrating the Project ECHO® model also strengthens state and federal grant applications by demonstrating a built-in mechanism for broad dissemination, interprofessional training, and measurable community impact across fields ranging from pediatric mental health to geriatric care.
Launching a Project ECHO®
The University of Minnesota already hosts six active Project ECHO® programs spanning topics from pediatric mental and behavioral health to geriatric care, reaching over 1,200 participants across Minnesota and the nation.
If your department, team, or community organization wants to build on this momentum by launching a new Project ECHO® program or incorporating the framework into an upcoming project proposal, our team provides the official training and technical foundation needed to get started.
We assist teams throughout the setup process—offering guidance on adapting clinical protocols into interactive case-based curricula, facilitating official Project ECHO® authorization, and establishing effective evaluation methods to track outcomes.
Connect with Us
Whether you are looking to explore training opportunities, integrate the Project ECHO® framework into an upcoming grant proposal, or launch a new program at your organization, our team is here to support you.
Submit a request below to connect directly with our team, or visit the University of Minnesota Project ECHO® Portal to browse all active Project ECHO® programs across the University.
Current MIDB Project ECHO® Series
In addition to training teams to launch new programs, MIDB and its partners host ongoing Project ECHO® series designed for community-based clinicians, school staff, and care providers.
Our featured series, Project ECHO®: Telehealth to Support Families of Children with Behavioral Health and Mental Health Needs, brings together experts across pediatric care, child psychiatry, social work, early intervention, and special education to support rural, mobile, and military-connected families. Led by Dr. Jessica Simacek through the MIDB TeleOutreach Hub and Institute on Community Integration, these flexible sessions offer real-time case consultation and social work continuing education units (CEUs) at no cost to participants.