Get Involved


The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has joined forces with university medical schools across the country including Mount Sinai, University of California Los Angeles, University of California San Diego, University of Pennsylvania and the University of Washington. Through this collaborative research project we hope to learn more about the genetic basis of schizophrenia. Understanding the genetic components of schizophrenia is crucial to finding out about the risk factors, and heritability of this illness. It may also help to create more effective treatments, and hopefully someday, find a cure.

Who Would Qualify?

Male or female between the ages of 18-65 with or without a diagnosis of schizophrenia

What Will I do in this Study?

The study lasts about 2 half-days. We will NOT ask you to change your medications in ANY way. Each participant will be paid for all time spent participating in the study. Also, we may provide transportation to and from the testing site.

For more information on the tests involved, please see below and contact the site closest to you at the number below.

If interested, please contact one of the sites below:

Mt.Sinai

(New York,NY)
Rui Ferreira
212-659-5619
Rui.Ferreira@mssm.edu

University of California, Los Angeles & West LA VA

(Los Angeles, CA)
Amanda Bender
310-478-3771, x41527
Amanda.Bender@va.gov

University of Washington & VA Puget Sound Health Care System

(Seattle, WA)
 Kate Alvey
800-597-5441 (toll free)

University of California, San Diego

(San Diego, CA)
Natalie McCarthy
619-543-7201
szresearch@ucsd.edu

University of Pennsylvania

(Philadelphia, PA)
Raquel E. Gur, MD, PhD
(888) 635-7780 (toll free)

Additional Information

What will happen if you agree to participate in this study:

1.

You will be interviewed about your medical and psychiatric history. You will be asked specific questions about problems or difficulties you might have had as well as how you think and act in a variety of situations.

2.

You will complete a series of problem-solving tests, some of which will be administered by computer.

3.

You will wear a special pair of glasses while you watch a dot move across a computer screen in order to record your eye movements.

4.

Two sensors will be placed next to each eye while you listen to a series of brief tones so that your blink reflex can be measured.

5.

You will have sensors placed around one eye, behind each ear, and on the top of your head while you listen to a series of brief clicks or tones in order to measure your brain waves (EEG).

6.

You will be asked to provide a blood sample. We want to learn more about the genetics of schizophrenia. Your blood sample will be used to extract DNA (genetic material) which will be stored for future study.

7.

You will be asked to provide a specimen of urine to test for the presence of drug use. You will also be asked to give a sample of saliva for an alcohol test.

Head of Research at each site:

Mt. Sinai: Larry Siever, M.D.
Univ. of California Los Angeles/West Los Angeles VA: Michael Green, Ph. D.
Univ. of California San Diego: David Braff, M.D., National Project Director
Univ. of Pennsylvania: Raquel Gur, M.D., Ph.D.
Univ. of Washington: Debby Tsuang, M.D.

University IRB Approval Numbers:
MSSM: IRB# 01-0550, UCLA: IRB# 11-000546, UCSD: IRB# 080435, UPenn: IRB# 810988 , UWash: IRB# 01341