Biomarkers to guide treatment for early psychosis in teens and young adults
4/5 Biomarkers to Enhance Early Schizophrenia Treatment (BEEST)
Uses brain scans and simple genetic tests to help decide whether people aged about 12–20 who have a first episode of psychosis should switch to clozapine earlier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184522 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a multi-center clinical trial where about 410 young people with a first episode of psychosis get three biomarker tests, including a resting-state brain scan and genetic tests that relate to weight gain and blood risks. The results would be used to create a decision-support tool that helps clinicians decide whether clozapine might be the best option sooner than usual. Participants are randomly assigned to care guided by these biomarkers versus usual care so researchers can compare outcomes. The team will track symptoms, side effects, and safety over time to see if biomarker-guided choices lead to better results.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are young people (roughly ages 12–20) experiencing a first episode of psychosis who are starting or on a first-line antipsychotic and may not be responding well.
Not a fit: People who are older than the target age range, who do not have a first episode of psychosis, or who are already stable on clozapine are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people get the most effective medication sooner while reducing the chance of serious side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier, smaller studies—including work by this team—have shown brain scans and genetics can predict response or certain side effects, but using these markers to guide clozapine decisions in a randomized trial is novel.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lahti, Adrienne C — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Lahti, Adrienne C
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.