Genetic clues for early-onset psychosis in Latino youth
Official title: Genetic Architecture of Early-Onset Psychosis in Mexicans (EPIMex)
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11554752 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 14, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $492,188 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH133621-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11554752 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents with early-onset psychosis and, in a subset, their parents and non-psychotic siblings.
✕Less likely to help
Most participants will contribute to knowledge rather than receive direct personal treatment changes.
What this research studies
Researchers will enroll about 1,900 children and adolescents with early-onset psychosis and 1,900 demographically matched non-psychotic youths in Mexico City, collecting detailed clinical data and genetic information. For 400 families, they will also enroll parents and a sibling to understand inherited and new mutations. The study will sequence genomes and deeply phenotype participants to uncover rare genetic variations linked to early-onset psychosis, with a focus on diverse ancestry groups. This work aims to reveal genetic factors that could inform future therapies and reduce disparities in psychiatric genetics research. The setting at a large pediatric hospital helps ensure careful clinical assessments and meaningful participation from affected families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to more precise understandings of the genetic causes of early-onset psychosis and pave the way for targeted prevention and treatment approaches in diverse populations.
How similar studies have gone: Similar large-scale genetic studies have identified risk loci, but this study’s focus on Latino populations and early-onset cases is especially novel and has shown promise in expanding known genetic factors.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Glahn, David C — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Glahn, David C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Mental Wellness Coordinated Care for Young People with Untreated Psychosis in Mozambique
A program in Mozambique aims to bring early, coordinated care for adolescents and young adults with new psychosis, using evidence-based services to reduce symptoms and improve functioning.
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.