Following biological signs and symptom paths in Kenyan youth at risk for psychosis
Clinical and Biomarker-Based Trajectories of Psychosis-Risk Populations in Kenya
This project looks at brain scans, blood and other biological markers, and symptoms in Kenyan adolescents and young adults who show early warning signs of psychosis to better track who may develop the condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11390791 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are a teenager or young adult in Kenya with early signs like unusual thoughts or hearing voices, researchers will follow you over time using the same clinical interviews, blood and other biomarker tests, and brain imaging used by an international consortium. The team will collect symptom reports, lab samples, and BOLD fMRI scans at repeated visits to map different clinical and biological trajectories. The effort also builds local research capacity so Kenyan clinics can take part in global work on psychosis risk. Participation typically involves clinic visits, blood draws, and brain scans over months to years.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Kenyan adolescents and young adults showing clinical high-risk signs such as attenuated psychotic symptoms, recent functional decline, or new unusual perceptual experiences.
Not a fit: People without early warning signs of psychosis or those who live outside the Kenyan study sites are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve early detection and help tailor prevention strategies for young people in Kenya who are at risk for psychosis.
How similar studies have performed: International CHR consortia like ProNET have started to identify biomarker patterns linked to different outcomes, but including African populations is a novel and largely untested extension.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mamah, Daniel — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Mamah, Daniel
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.