Psychosis in people from diverse ancestries
Official title: Psychosis in Ancestrally Diverse Settings (PADS)
Funded at Suny Downstate Medical Center · NIH-11382602 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares how psychotic illnesses start, progress, and respond to treatment in adults of African and Caribbean ancestry in the US, Nigeria, and Trinidad and Tobago.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $223,128 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH137768-02S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382602 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with a psychotic disorder who receive care at participating sites in Brooklyn (SUNY Downstate), Ibadan (Nigeria), or St. Augustine (Trinidad and Tobago) are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without a psychotic disorder, those treated outside the participating locations, or whose ancestry is not represented may not receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will collect clinical information from people receiving care for psychosis at hospitals and clinics in Brooklyn, Ibadan, and St. Augustine. Participants will also provide DNA samples so the team can do whole-genome sequencing to look for genetic differences linked to illness and treatment response. The project matches inpatients and outpatients across sites and compares results to large U.S. datasets to see which genetic risk scores work across ancestries. Findings will combine clinical and genomic data to understand similarities and differences in symptoms, outcomes, and treatment effects across these communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Results could lead to better genetic risk tools and more tailored treatments for people of African and Caribbean ancestry with psychosis.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier INTREPID pilot work established local case-finding, but applying whole-genome sequencing and cross-population polygenic comparisons in African and Caribbean groups is relatively new.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.