Predicting psychosis risk in teens at high risk (PRESCIENT)
Official title: Trajectories and Predictors in the Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Population: Prediction Scientific Global Consortium (PRESCIENT)
Funded at University of Melbourne · NIH-11528611 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study helps teens who are at high risk for developing psychosis by building better ways to predict who might need early help.
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 | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $400,977 |
| NIH project number | 3U01MH124631-06S5 |
| Project ID | NIH-11528611 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals aged roughly 12–20 years who meet clinical high-risk criteria for psychosis and can commit to follow-up visits over two years.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without CHR symptoms or those unable to participate in long-term follow-up may not benefit.
What this research studies
PRESCIENT follows high-risk adolescents and young people to track their brain signals, clinical symptoms, and other biomarkers over two years to predict outcomes like transition to psychosis, ongoing CHR status, and functional recovery. The project uses repeated assessments and collaborations across international sites to refine models that estimate individual risk for meaningful outcomes. Participants have already been recruited and will contribute data and samples to improve early intervention strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier, more personalized support for youths at risk, potentially reducing the severity or onset of psychotic disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in CHR populations have shown that multimodal data can improve prediction of psychosis risk, though models require validation across groups.
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.