Precision brain charts for imaging-genomics in schizophrenia and psychosis spectrum
Official title: Precision brain charts for imaging-genomics of schizophrenia and the psychosis spectrum
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11300966 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to create brain-maturation charts from MRI data to help understand schizophrenia and related psychosis across all ages.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $770,271 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH133843-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11300966 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals across the lifespan who undergo brain MRI and may be studied for schizophrenia or psychosis spectrum conditions, including youth and adults.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not showing relevant brain maturation patterns or those not contributing to the maturation charts may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a large, multi-site collection of brain MRI scans to build normal developmental charts for brain structure and maturation. It will apply reproducible processing pipelines and data harmonization to create an open resource of brain charts that researchers can use to compare individual scans against typical development. By analyzing longitudinal twin data, the study will explore how brain maturation patterns may be inherited and diverge in psychosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more precise interpretation of brain scans and earlier, more personalized understanding of psychosis-related brain changes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous brain-Chart approaches in pediatrics show promise; this project extends to psychiatric imaging with a large, diverse dataset.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alexander-Bloch, Aaron Felix — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Alexander-Bloch, Aaron Felix
Related research
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Creating brain charts to understand schizophrenia and related conditions
This study is working on creating helpful brain charts to show how brains develop in people with schizophrenia and similar conditions, using a large collection of MRI scans to find common growth patterns, so doctors can better understand and track brain changes over time.
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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.
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.