Early signs and future paths for people at high risk of psychosis
Official title: Trajectories and Predictors in the Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Population: Prediction Scientific Global Consortium (PRESCIENT)
Funded at University of Melbourne · NIH-11374066 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will build better tools to predict outcomes for young people showing early signs of psychosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Melbourne NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Melbourne, Australia) |
| Project start | September 8, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $328,218 |
| NIH project number | 3U01MH124631-05S6 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374066 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are young people identified as being at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis—those with recent subthreshold psychotic symptoms, functional decline, or related early warning signs seen at participating clinics.
✕Less likely to help
People without CHR signs or those already diagnosed with a full psychotic disorder are unlikely to be included or receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would be part of a global effort that combines clinical information, thinking tests, brain scans, biological markers, and genetic data from young people at clinical high risk for psychosis. Researchers will use large combined datasets and modern statistical and machine‑learning methods to find patterns that link baseline measures to different future paths, such as developing a psychotic disorder, recovering, or having persistent problems. The team plans to turn those prediction models into validated tools clinicians can use in routine care. The work brings together many CHR clinics worldwide to improve accuracy beyond earlier, smaller studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help clinicians identify who needs earlier or more focused treatment and who may recover without intensive intervention.
How similar studies have gone: Previous CHR research has produced only modest prediction accuracy, so this larger, multimodal consortium approach is promising but not yet proven to be superior.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nelson, Christopher Barnaby — University of Melbourne
- Study coordinator: Nelson, Christopher Barnaby
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Psychosis in diverse settings across the world
This project studies how psychotic disorders show up and respond to treatment in adults with diverse backgrounds, including populations in Africa, the Caribbean, and other Global South settings.
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Psychosis in Diverse Settings: Understanding Symptoms and Treatment Across Global South
A human-facing study will look at how psychotic disorders present and respond to treatment in adults from Africa, the Caribbean, and other Global South settings, using genetic and clinical data.
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A new online brain-scan-style tool to spot early psychosis risk
A new online-based set of tasks and a computer model aims to identify people at high risk for developing psychosis earlier and more accurately.
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Genetic clues for early-onset psychosis in Latino youth
This project looks at the genes of young people with early-onset psychosis and compares them with similar youths without psychosis to find genetic factors that contribute to the illness.
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Biomarkers to tailor rehab for Veterans with schizophrenia
A clinician-scientist is developing a brain-based biomarker to guide personalized rehabilitation for Veterans with schizophrenia.
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Computational analysis of facial expression in early psychosis
Aims to develop computer-based measures of facial expression in people at risk for or with schizophrenia to help track symptoms and guide future trials.
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.