Objective Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent psychotic episodes that typically commence in early adulthood. There is consistent evidence for anatomical and functional brain abnormalities in schizophrenia, but their timing is unclear. Changes in behavior and cognition precede the first psychotic episode by many years, suggesting that the underlying neurobiological process predates the onset of psychosis. Clarifying the neurobiology of the pre-onset or ‘prodromal’ phase will facilitate the development of early intervention and prevention strategies for schizophrenia. I hypothesize that disruptions in the anatomical brain network, and associated disturbances in functional integration among specialized neural circuits, drive changes in behavior and cognition in the prodromal phase. In this project, I have the opportunity to test my hypothesis in a unique sample of medication-naive adolescents and young adults with early signs of impending psychosis, that are followed prospectively as they progress through the vulnerable prodromal period. This sample is collected as part of an ongoing NIMH-funded collaborative research program between a multidisciplinary Harvard/MIT research team and the Shanghai Mental Health Center. Using network science as a mathematical framework, I propose to study brain network architecture in this sample of youths with early signs of impending psychosis, to assess how disruptions in the brain’s network underlie prodromal symptoms and cognition, whether early neuroinflammation contributes to brain network deficits, and to test brain network metrics as early identifiers of emerging psychosis. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinepsychiatryschizophrenia Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-GF - Global Fellowships Coordinator UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM UTRECHT Net EU contribution € 242 929,80 Address Heidelberglaan 100 3584 CX Utrecht Netherlands See on map Region West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC NON PROFIT CORPORATION United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Brookline avenue 330 02105 Boston ma See on map Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 160 130,40
