Psychosis across diverse communities in Africa, the Caribbean, and the U.S.
Psychosis in Ancestrally Diverse Settings (PADS)
Comparing how psychosis shows up and responds to treatment in people from the U.S., Africa, and the Caribbean while using whole genome sequencing to learn about genetic differences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Suny Downstate Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brooklyn, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11382601 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will collect clinical information from people with psychotic disorders treated in Brooklyn, Ibadan (Nigeria), and St. Augustine (Trinidad and Tobago), including a matched group of inpatients. Participants will provide a blood sample for whole genome sequencing to look for common and rare genetic variants linked to psychosis. The team will compare symptoms, outcomes, and treatment responses across these populations and against large U.S. datasets like the Million Veteran Program and All of Us. The goal is to see whether genetic risk scores and known variants apply similarly in Global South populations and to identify differences that could affect care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with psychotic disorders, including people newly identified in community settings and those hospitalized, especially individuals of African or Caribbean ancestry, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a psychotic disorder or those unwilling to provide a genetic sample or clinical records are unlikely to gain direct benefits from joining.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve genetic risk tools and help tailor diagnosis and treatment for people of African and Caribbean ancestry with psychosis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous projects like INTREPID and large U.S. cohorts have advanced knowledge of psychosis, but applying whole genome sequencing to underrepresented Global South populations is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Brooklyn, United States
- Suny Downstate Medical Center — Brooklyn, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bigdeli, Tim Bernard — Suny Downstate Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Bigdeli, Tim Bernard
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 below.