Global brain imaging of anorexia and factors that affect recovery
Official title: The ENIGMA - Eating Disorders Initiative: A Global Neuroimaging Study of Anorexia and Factors Affecting Clinical Outcomes
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11266189 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project collects and compares brain scans and clinical information from people with anorexia to find brain patterns linked to relapse, recovery, and treatment response.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $475,944 |
| NIH project number | 5U01MH136221-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11266189 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with anorexia nervosa—including adolescents and young adults—at various stages (currently underweight, early in illness, or recovered) who can share MRI scans and clinical information.
✕Less likely to help
People without anorexia, those unable to undergo MRI, or those whose care settings do not participate in the consortium are unlikely to be able to join or benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
From a patient viewpoint, researchers are pooling MRI brain scans and clinical records from many hospitals and research centers around the world to understand how anorexia changes the brain. They will compare people who are currently ill, those who have recovered, and healthy volunteers to separate effects of starvation from illness-related brain differences. The team will link brain features with clinical outcomes and genetic or risk factors to spot patterns that predict who is likely to relapse or recover. Findings may guide more personalized monitoring and treatment plans in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to brain-based markers that help predict relapse risk and tailor treatments for people with anorexia.
How similar studies have gone: Smaller MRI studies have shown brain changes in anorexia but results were inconsistent, while ENIGMA-style large data pooling has produced robust findings in other psychiatric conditions and is now being applied to anorexia.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thompson, Paul M — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Thompson, Paul M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Global brain imaging study to understand anorexia in teens and how it affects outcomes
A large international study using brain scans to learn why anorexia nervosa develops, how it affects teens, and what predicts recovery or relapse.
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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.