PRESCIENT: predicting outcomes in teens at risk for 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-11514522 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large international effort is building and testing models to predict who among 12- to 20-year-olds at high risk for psychosis will experience meaningful health outcomes.
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) | $1 |
| NIH project number | 4U01MH124631-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11514522 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are youth ages 12-20 who are at clinical high risk for psychosis and willing to participate in longitudinal biomarker and clinical assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not at clinical high risk or unable to participate in regular follow-up may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows teens and young adults identified as clinically high risk for psychosis, collecting multiple biomarker and clinical data over two years to predict outcomes like conversion to psychosis, symptom changes, and functioning. Researchers use repeated measurements and long-term follow-up to develop accurate risk scores that could guide early interventions. The study is already enrolling a broad international group and has completed several baseline assessments, with ongoing follow-up and data analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians could pinpoint high-risk youths earlier and tailor prevention and support to improve long-term mental health and functioning.
How similar studies have gone: Past studies in CHR populations have shown promise in predicting outcomes with multimodal data, but robust, generalizable models are still advancing.
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.
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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.