Perinatal Vulnerability to Psychosis

描述（由申请人提供）：精神分裂症是一种神经发育障碍，其中青春期发作的特征性症状代表了多年大脑发育异常的结果。因此，尽管研究为患有这种疾病的人提供治疗方案是必不可少的，但真正的预防工作将需要关注在整个成熟过程中使大脑发育正常化。许多国家正在努力探索青少年早期的前驱期，但在开发适合大脑发育最活跃和最关键时期的翻译模型和方法方面缺乏努力。本R21探索性网络提案的重点是发展一种跨学科的方法来研究易患精神病儿童的围产期发育。分子生物学、细胞生物学和发展心理学的基础研究人员与生理学、影像学和婴儿精神病理学方面的临床研究人员一起工作。探索性网络的关键人员主要来自两所拥有主要发展导向精神分裂症研究项目的大学，科罗拉多大学健康科学中心和北卡罗来纳大学。来自伊利诺伊州莱克森林学院和丹佛大学心理学系的教师也被包括在内，以增强网络的基本发展心理学组成部分。这个跨机构跨学科网络的目标是开发与胎儿和易患后期精神病的婴儿围出生期大脑发育相关的翻译模型和方法。具体目标包括(a)发展适合围产期的生理、影像学、神经认知和行为方法，(b)基因型-表型相关性，以及(c)探索将基础科学发现转化为干预预防研究的适宜性、可行性和结果。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder, where the adolescent onset of characteristic symptomology represents the outcome of years of abnormal brain development. Thus, although research to advance treatment options for those with the disorder is essential, true prevention efforts are going to need to focus on normalizing brain development throughout maturation. A number of national efforts are underway to explore early adolescent prodromal periods, but there is a critical lack of effort to develop translational models and methodology appropriate for the most active and critical period of brain development. This R21 Exploratory Network proposal focuses on developing a cross-disciplinary approach to studying peri-natal development in children vulnerable to psychosis. Basic researchers in molecular biology, cell biology and developmental psychology join clinical researchers with expertise in physiology, imaging, and infant psychopathology. Key personnel in the Exploratory Network are primarily drawn from two Universities with major developmentally oriented schizophrenia research programs, the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and the University of North Carolina. Faculty from Psychology departments at Lake Forest College in Illinois and the University of Denver are also included to enhance the basic developmental psychology components of the network. The goal of this cross-institution cross-disciplinary network is designed to develop translational models and methodology related to peri-natal brain development in fetuses and infants vulnerable to later onset of psychosis. Specific goals include (a) the development of physiological, imaging, neurocognitive, and behavioral approaches appropriate for the peri-natal period, (b) genotype-phenotype correlations, and (c) exploration of the appropriateness, viability, and outcome of translating basic science findings into intervention prevention studies.