The advent of non-invasive connectivity-oriented neuroimaging methods has shed new light onto the inner workings of the brain. The brain's functional and structural connectome play key roles in regulating the pathways from genes to neural systems to mental illnesses. Along these pathways, we hypothesize that abnormal activity in the innate stress-immune pathways has a major contribution to the brain connectome disruption in early stage of schizophrenia spectrum disorder and to its clinical consequence. The project proposes to extend the Connectome Project in Mental Illness to characterize brain circuitry and its relation to stress-immune axis dysfunction in early stage of schizophrenia spectrum disorder in China. We propose a longitudinal study in a large sample of patients that aims to overcome the heterogeneity in the relationship between mental illness and stress-immune-connectome axis, a well-recognized barrier to advancing research and treatment. We will recruit 500 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders within five years of disease onset. They will be assessed using modern chronic stress and acute psychological stress laboratory paradigms to define the stress biomarkers at baseline. The patients will be compared with 250 age and sex matched healthy controls. The collaboration leverages the clinical stress research expertise by the U.S. partner and the the clinical immunology research expertise in schizophrenia by the Chinese partner. The proposed study also builds on our ongoing work using acute and chronic stress paradigms to understand how stress is linked to brain structural and functional connectome in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This novel proposition in U.S. and Chinese mental health research field is strongly supported by preliminary data. The ability to apply the cutting edge connectome protocol using the advanced research designated scanner in Beijing will also enhance our ability to use multimodal imaging tools to aid biologically based heterogeneity reduction. Together, this study will generate actionable strategies to treat and prevent brain connectome deterioration and facilitate clinical recovery after psychosis onset.

Public Health Relevance

The U.S. - China Collaboration project will collect data from a large group of schizophrenia spectrum disorder patients in their early stage of disease. The project aims to study how stress and immune adaptive function or dysfunction may impact brain circuitry and disease progression or recovery, so that doctors can provide more effective prevention and treatment options to these patients in the future.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH112180-03
Application #
9607121
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Hillefors, MI
Project Start
2017-02-01
Project End
2021-11-30
Budget Start
2018-12-01
Budget End
2019-11-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maryland Baltimore
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
188435911
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21201
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