Biomarker-guided care for teens and young adults with a first episode of psychosis
5/5 Biomarkers to Enhance Early Schizophrenia Treatment (BEEST)
This project tests whether brain scans and genetic tests can help doctors pick the right antipsychotic and decide about clozapine sooner for 12–20-year-olds having a first episode of psychosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184375 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you will have a resting-state brain scan and genetic testing plus regular clinical visits to track symptoms and side effects. The team will enroll about 410 young people with a first episode of psychosis and use three specific biomarkers to see who is unlikely to respond to first-line antipsychotics and who is at lower or higher risk for side effects like weight gain or agranulocytosis. Participants will be followed while clinicians use a biomarker-informed decision support approach versus usual care to guide whether to switch to clozapine. The study will compare symptom outcomes, safety, and treatment timing across groups to build a tool to help treatment decisions in early psychosis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults (about 12–20 years old) experiencing a first episode of psychosis who are starting or recently started antipsychotic treatment.
Not a fit: People without a recent first episode of psychosis, those with long-standing schizophrenia, or those unwilling to have MRI or genetic testing are unlikely to benefit from joining this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help doctors choose effective medications earlier and reduce long-term disability and avoidable side effects in teens and young adults with early psychosis.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier work from the team showed that resting-state fMRI and genetic tests can predict treatment response and certain side effects, but using them in a randomized decision-support trial is new.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cadenhead, Kristin S. — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Cadenhead, Kristin S.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.