Using a brain MRI score to spot psychosis risk in young people with portable MRI
Predicting psychosis risk in youth using a novel structural neuroimaging score that measures deviation from normative development. Can we bring it to communities using portable, low-field MRI?
This project uses a simple brain MRI score to spot adolescents and young adults who may be at higher risk for developing psychosis and works to make the test available in community settings using portable, low-field MRI.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11303242 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, researchers will combine thousands of existing brain scans to build a single Psychosis Neuroimaging Score that represents typical brain development and patterns linked to psychosis. They will compare a young person’s score to the expected age-related pattern to see how much it differs and whether that difference matches psychosis-related symptoms. The team will test the score in large youth datasets, including the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort, and follow whether higher deviation predicts worsening symptoms. Finally, they will explore whether cheaper, portable low-field MRI machines can measure the same score so testing could happen in community clinics or school-based settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults (roughly ages 10–22) with psychosis-spectrum symptoms, unusual thoughts, or concerns about early signs of psychosis.
Not a fit: People with long-standing, established psychotic disorders or those outside the target age range are less likely to benefit from this prevention-focused approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help find at-risk youth earlier so they can get closer monitoring, support, or early interventions before full psychosis develops.
How similar studies have performed: Large adult neuroimaging studies have found subtle, widespread brain differences in psychosis, but applying a cumulative neuroimaging score to predict risk in youth and doing so with portable low-field MRI is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jalbrzikowski, Maria — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Jalbrzikowski, Maria
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.