Psychosis in Diverse Settings: Understanding Symptoms and Treatment Across Global South
Official title: Psychosis in Ancestrally Diverse Settings (PADS)
Funded at Suny Downstate Medical Center · NIH-11592427 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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) | $254,788 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH137768-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11592427 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with psychotic disorders in participating sites in the Global South (Africa, Caribbean region) and matched inpatient cohorts.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the study regions or without psychotic disorders are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project brings researchers from SUNY Downstate, University of Ibadan, and University of the West Indies to compare how psychosis appears and how well treatments work in diverse adult populations. Participants will receive state-of-the-art genomic profiling and be followed to see how clinical outcomes align with genomic findings. By comparing these international groups to US studies, the team hopes to uncover unique patterns that can guide more effective, locally relevant care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may benefit from more accurate diagnoses and treatments tailored to diverse genetic backgrounds and regional contexts.
How similar studies have gone: Previous INTREPID studies laid groundwork for identifying untreated psychosis and show value in diverse, global cohorts; this study builds on that foundation.
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 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.
-
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.
-
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.