PRESCIENT: Predicting Psychosis risk in High-Risk Youth
Official title: Trajectories and Predictors in the Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Population: Prediction Scientific Global Consortium (PRESCIENT)
Funded at University of Melbourne · NIH-11528614 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to improve early prediction of psychosis in teens and young adults at high risk using multiple biomarkers and clinical data to guide prevention.
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) | $383,213 |
| NIH project number | 3U01MH124631-06S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11528614 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults (roughly ages 12–20) who meet clinical high-risk criteria for psychosis.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not at clinical high risk for psychosis or those not engaged in longitudinal follow-up may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
PRESCIENT is a longitudinal study following individuals aged roughly 12–20 who are at clinical high risk for psychosis. Researchers collect diverse biomarker data and clinical information over two years to build and test models that predict outcomes like conversion to psychosis, persistence of risk, and functional recovery. The goal is to create tools that help clinicians identify who is most at risk and tailor early interventions to prevent or lessen illness impact. The study has already enrolled over a thousand CHR participants and hundreds of controls, with biomarker and follow-up data gathered at baseline and two months, and ongoing follow-up planned.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more accurate early identification and personalized prevention strategies for youths at risk of psychosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous large-scale efforts have shown promise in using multimodal data to predict psychosis risk, though optimal prediction remains challenging and ongoing.
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.