Biomarkers to Guide First-Episode Schizophrenia Treatment
Official title: 3/5- Biomarkers to Enhance Early Schizophrenia Treatment (BEEST)
Funded at Mclean Hospital · NIH-11394590 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing biomarker-based methods to help doctors choose the best initial treatment for teens and young adults experiencing a first episode of psychosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mclean Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $413,754 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH134885-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394590 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults with a first episode of psychosis who are treated with standard antipsychotics and are candidates for biomarker-guided decision making.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing a first-episode psychosis or those not considering clozapine-based strategies may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to use brain scans and genetics to predict who might not respond to standard antipsychotics and who may be at risk for side effects like weight gain or agranulocytosis. It will enroll about 410 young people with a first episode of psychosis across multiple centers to develop a decision-support tool for selecting clozapine earlier when needed. If successful, the approach could personalize treatment and reduce the time patients spend on less effective medications. The study plans to harmonize procedures and analyze biomarker data to improve future care for FEP patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more effective, personalized treatment sooner, potentially improving outcomes and reducing side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary findings suggest biomarkers can help predict treatment response and side effects in FEP, but large-scale validation is ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
Mclean Hospital
Belmont, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ongur, Dost — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ongur, Dost
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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.