# Improving the Precision of Genetic Markers for Psychotic Disorders

> **NIH NIH K08** · STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK · 2020 · $200,535

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Psychotic disorders account for more than 10% of mental-health-related disease burden in the United
States, but it remains difficult to predict who will develop a psychotic disorder, how their illness will progress,
and how they will respond to available treatments. Recent findings suggest promise for genetic markers for
psychotic illnesses, but these tools are imprecise, limiting their utility for basic research and clinical application.
This K08 application outlines a research and training program that will support the applicant's development
towards an NIH-funded, independent research career investigating the genetic liabilities for serious mental
illness. The activities outlined in this application build on the candidate's clinical and quantitative background,
and through training exercises set in a resource-rich environment, facilitate the development of expertise in 1)
scientific communication and responsible conduct of research; 2) statistical genetics, 3) genetics of psychotic
disorders, and 4) translational research for evaluating genetic markers for clinical applications. The aim of the
research outlined in this proposal is to validate a novel method of identifying polygenic risk for psychotic
disorders that takes account of overlapping symptoms and common genetic vulnerabilities. This approach aims
to improve the precision of polygenic risk scores. This method will be applied in an ethnically diverse sample of
30,000 individuals with psychotic disorders, identifying polygenic risk scores for both general and specific
facets of psychotic symptomatology. The resulting risk scores will be validated in pooled analysis of nine
longitudinal cohort studies, comprising 1,785 cases. Risk scores will be tested as predictors of psychosis
onset, diagnosis, symptom trajectory, psychosocial outcomes, and treatment response. If the proposed
research succeeds in identifying genetic correlates of specific dimensions of psychotic disorders that predict
these important health outcomes, it will have important implications for etiological research, as it may help to
identify targets for intervention. The findings would also have significance for clinical translational research, as
genetic markers have potential application as aids in diagnosis and prognosis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9950263
- **Project number:** 1K08MH122673-01
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK
- **Principal Investigator:** Katherine G Jonas
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $200,535
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-03-05 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9950263

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9950263, Improving the Precision of Genetic Markers for Psychotic Disorders (1K08MH122673-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9950263. Licensed CC0.

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