This application for a Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award (K23) is from a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist. He is proposing a research career development plan that will enable him to investigate late postnatal changes in the brain and their relationship to early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) (onset of psychotic symptoms by age 16) using neuroimaging technology. The applicant has preliminary data (Kumra et al, 2000) demonstrating a pattern of structural brain abnormalities in adolescents with EOS (e.g., subtle reduction in total cerebral volume largely accounted for by a reduction in gray matter, enlarged lateral ventricles) similar to those reported in adult patients with unspecified age at onset of schizophrenia. The applicant proposes to learn how to conduct additional neuroimaging studies examining white matter tract integrity in adolescents with EOS as inferred from diffusion tensor neuroimaging (DTI). DTI is a magnetic resonance imaging technique suited to the study of white matter because it can be used to quantify the magnitude and directionality of tissue water mobility in three dimensions. DTI provides a new method for estimating myelination in vivo. This technique may supply information about delays in brain ontogeny which may contribute to the vulnerability for an early onset of schizophrenia. The training plan will increase the applicant?s knowledge of methodological issues regarding structural imaging, DTI and comprehensive neuropsychological assessment methods. The training goals will be accomplished through the completion of the research plan. The research plan will provide the candidate with an opportunity to independently design, conduct, and complete a neuroimaging study in its entirety under the supervision of a group of experienced mentors. The training experiences in this award will provide the applicant with the necessary skills and experiences to independently undertake neuroimaging studies in the future and effectively compete for grant support.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23MH064556-04
Application #
6841692
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-5 (01))
Program Officer
Boyce, Cheryl A
Project Start
2002-01-10
Project End
2006-12-31
Budget Start
2005-01-01
Budget End
2005-12-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$177,082
Indirect Cost
Name
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Department
Type
DUNS #
110565913
City
Manhasset
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11030
Kumra, Sanjiv; Ashtari, Manzar; Wu, Jinghui et al. (2011) Gray matter volume deficits are associated with motor and attentional impairments in adolescents with schizophrenia. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 35:939-43
Ashtari, Manzar; Avants, Brian; Cyckowski, Laura et al. (2011) Medial temporal structures and memory functions in adolescents with heavy cannabis use. J Psychiatr Res 45:1055-66
Ashtari, Manzar; Cervellione, Kelly; Cottone, John et al. (2009) Diffusion abnormalities in adolescents and young adults with a history of heavy cannabis use. J Psychiatr Res 43:189-204
Cervellione, Kelly L; Burdick, Katherine E; Cottone, John G et al. (2007) Neurocognitive deficits in adolescents with schizophrenia: longitudinal stability and predictive utility for short-term functional outcome. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 46:867-78
Ashtari, Manzar; Cottone, John; Ardekani, Babak A et al. (2007) Disruption of white matter integrity in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus in adolescents with schizophrenia as revealed by fiber tractography. Arch Gen Psychiatry 64:1270-80
Kester, Hana M; Sevy, Serge; Yechiam, Eldad et al. (2006) Decision-making impairments in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 85:113-23
Thaden, Emily; Rhinewine, Joseph P; Lencz, Todd et al. (2006) Early-onset schizophrenia is associated with impaired adolescent development of attentional capacity using the identical pairs continuous performance test. Schizophr Res 81:157-66
Ashtari, Manzar; Kumra, Sanjiv; Bhaskar, Shree L et al. (2005) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a preliminary diffusion tensor imaging study. Biol Psychiatry 57:448-55
Kranzler, Harvey; Roofeh, David; Gerbino-Rosen, Ginny et al. (2005) Clozapine: its impact on aggressive behavior among children and adolescents with schizophrenia. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 44:55-63
Gerbino-Rosen, Ginny; Roofeh, David; Tompkins, D Andrew et al. (2005) Hematological adverse events in clozapine-treated children and adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 44:1024-31

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