Mitochondrial complex I function in people with schizophrenia

In vivo assessment of the mitochondrial complex I in subjects with schizophrenia

NIH-funded research New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11229630

Researchers will measure how a key energy-producing part of brain cells (mitochondrial complex I) works in people with schizophrenia and how that relates to thinking problems.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNew York University School of Medicine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11229630 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you join, researchers will use noninvasive brain imaging and recordings of brain activity, and may collect blood samples to look at mitochondrial complex I function in the brain. They will ask participants to perform thinking tasks while measuring gamma-range brain activity in areas important for memory and attention. The team will compare the findings in people with schizophrenia to expected patterns to see whether reduced cellular energy links to cognitive symptoms. This is an early-stage, exploratory effort aimed at understanding the brain biology behind thinking difficulties.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who have cognitive symptoms and can attend study visits at NYU would be ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without schizophrenia, those who are medically unstable, cannot undergo brain imaging, or cannot travel to New York are unlikely to benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new ways to treat or prevent thinking problems in schizophrenia.

How similar studies have performed: Previous postmortem and laboratory studies suggest mitochondrial issues in schizophrenia, but direct in vivo measurement of complex I in living patients is limited and relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.