Psychosis-risk and biomarker tracking in Kenyan adolescents and young adults
Clinical and Biomarker-Based Trajectories of Psychosis-Risk Populations in Kenya
This project looks at brain scans, blood markers, and symptoms in Kenyan adolescents and young adults who show early signs of psychosis to better predict their future outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176386 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a team that enrolls adolescents and young adults in Kenya who show early or mild psychotic symptoms and follows them over time. The researchers will collect brain imaging, blood and other biological samples, and regular clinical interviews using the same methods as an international network called ProNET. The goal is to see which biological and clinical signs predict different illness paths and to compare Kenyan results with data from other countries. Participation may involve clinic visits for assessments, blood draws, and MRI scans at local Kenyan sites.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults in Kenya who have been identified as clinical high risk for psychosis or who have attenuated psychotic symptoms.
Not a fit: People without early or attenuated psychotic symptoms, those outside the study age range, or those living far from the Kenyan study sites are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help identify which young people with early psychotic signs in Kenya are most likely to develop full psychosis so they can get earlier, more targeted care.
How similar studies have performed: Related international CHR (clinical high risk) projects like ProNET have used similar multimodal biomarkers to predict outcomes, but African populations have not been included until now.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mamah, Daniel — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Mamah, Daniel
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.