Predicting outcomes for people at high risk of psychosis
Official title: Trajectories and Predictors in the Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Population: Prediction Scientific Global Consortium (PRESCIENT)
Funded at University of Melbourne · NIH-11374085 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project combines symptoms, brain imaging, biological tests, and other health data to predict future outcomes for young people showing early signs of psychosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Melbourne NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Melbourne, Australia) |
| Project start | September 8, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $116,345 |
| NIH project number | 3U01MH124631-05S7 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374085 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are young people identified as Clinical High Risk (CHR) for psychosis, such as those with recent subthreshold psychotic symptoms, notable functional decline, or relevant family history.
✕Less likely to help
People without CHR features or those already diagnosed with a full psychotic disorder are unlikely to be eligible or to directly benefit from this specific prediction-focused work.
What this research studies
If you are identified as being at Clinical High Risk (CHR) for psychosis, you could be included in an international effort that pools clinical, cognitive, brain imaging, biological, and genetic data. Researchers analyze patterns across these different types of information to predict who may develop a psychotic disorder, who may have persistent symptoms or other mental health conditions, and who may recover. The team aims to turn those prediction models into practical tools clinicians can use in clinics to guide early, personalized care. The work combines data from the University of Melbourne and partner sites worldwide to improve accuracy and make tools usable across locations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians could identify earlier who needs more intensive support and tailor treatments to prevent or reduce psychosis and disability.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using clinical, cognitive, and imaging data have had only modest success at predicting outcomes, and this larger pooled approach aims to improve on those results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nelson, Christopher Barnaby — University of Melbourne
- Study coordinator: Nelson, Christopher Barnaby
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.
-
Genetic clues for early-onset psychosis in Latino youth
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.
-
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.
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.