Psychosis in diverse settings across the world
Official title: Psychosis in Ancestrally Diverse Settings (PADS)
Funded at Suny Downstate Medical Center · NIH-11592428 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 start | August 7, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $306,396 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH137768-03S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11592428 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with psychotic disorders from diverse ancestries, including African, Caribbean, and Global South populations, who receive care at participating sites.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without psychotic disorders or those not receiving care at the participating sites may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will compare clinical presentation, outcomes, and treatment responses for psychosis across international sites, including Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US. The study adds whole genome sequencing to understand genetic factors and will benchmark polygenic risk scores in these populations. By analyzing matched inpatient cohorts and comparing with US and international datasets, the project aims to uncover differences that could guide more equitable care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to more personalized and effective treatments for psychosis in diverse populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous INTREPID studies established methods for identifying untreated psychosis; this project extends those approaches with genomic data.
Where this research is happening
-
Suny Downstate Medical Center
Brooklyn, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bigdeli, Tim Bernard — Suny Downstate Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Bigdeli, Tim Bernard
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
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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.
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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.
-
Mental Wellness Coordinated Care for Young People with Untreated Psychosis in Mozambique
A program in Mozambique aims to bring early, coordinated care for adolescents and young adults with new psychosis, using evidence-based services to reduce symptoms and improve functioning.
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.