# OPTIMIZING AND PERSONALIZING INTERVENTIONS FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA ACROSS THE LIFESPAN (OPAL)

> **NIH NIH P50** · NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC · 2020 · $1,273,862

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY - OVERALL
 The target population for this ALACRITY center is people diagnosed with schizophrenia, who
commonly have impaired social and occupational functioning, experience persistent psychotic and mood
symptoms, and are at risk for disability and premature death. We named this proposed center OPAL, after its
goal of Optimizing and Personalizing interventions for people with schizophrenia Across the Lifespan. The goal
of OPAL is to accelerate the adaptation, development and implementation of effective, personalized treatments
in real-world settings. The specific aims of this center are as follows:
 1. Create an infrastructure that supports research that tests innovative ways to optimize treatments for
people with schizophrenia throughout the lifespan and that accelerates the translation of clinical research on
schizophrenia to routine practice settings.
 2. Conduct exploratory and pilot projects that develop, adapt, and test innovative methods to
personalize treatments for schizophrenia and to make them effective and readily deployable.
 3. Train scientists who will conduct translational research on services and treatments for persons with
schizophrenia.
 The three OPAL developmental projects address important representative problems that affect people
diagnosed with schizophrenia throughout the course of illness. Project 1 addresses cognitive impairments,
which have been detected during the prodromal period until late life and are a key contributor to functional
impairments. The project examines ways to personalize cognitive remediation and make it more accessible.
The project will examine the feasibility of delivering cognitive remediation in non-clinic settings and baseline
testing to tailor the intervention to individual needs. Project 2 addresses the treatment of common chronic
medical conditions that are associated with considerable morbidity and premature mortality in schizophrenia.
The project adapts Critical Time Intervention (CTI) to the needs of individuals with schizophrenia who are
hospitalized for ambulatory care sensitive conditions and examines its preliminary effectiveness. Project 3
focuses on psychotropic medications, which are vital but poorly deployed treatments for schizophrenia. The
project examines the feasibility and effectiveness of using mobile health technology and Experience Sampling
Methods (ESM) to optimize psychopharmacologic regimens for individuals with first-episode psychosis.
 The OPAL Center will use common resources and methodologies to improve the implementation and
personalization of treatments. As a complement to the quantitative data gathered in each project, we will use
qualitative methods to get stakeholder input, particularly on techniques to maximize engagement in treatment,
and to refine and adapt interventions for effective implementation in real-world settings.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9841450
- **Project number:** 5P50MH115843-03
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** THOMAS SCOTT STROUP
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,273,862
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-04-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9841450

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9841450, OPTIMIZING AND PERSONALIZING INTERVENTIONS FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA ACROSS THE LIFESPAN (OPAL) (5P50MH115843-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9841450. Licensed CC0.

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