Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) are highly heterogeneous psychiatric disorders with diverse clinical trajectories and underlying biological mechanisms. Our research aims to identify reliable biomarkers for patient stratification and treatment prediction by combining deep clinical phenotyping with multimodal neurobiological investigations. 

Our research focuses on two complementary longitudinal studies.

CDP-STAR (heads: Dr. med. Vladislav Yakimov, Dr. med. Joanna Moussiopoulou, Dr. med. Emanuel Boudriot, head of neuroimaging: Dr. Daniel Keeser) study integrates comprehensive clinical assessments with multimodal MRI, EEG, retinal imaging, cognitive testing, and multi-omics (blood and cerebrospinal fluid) analyses to validate and discover biomarkers associated with treatment response and long-term outcomes.

In parallel, the IMPACT study (head: Dr. med. Joanna Moussiopoulou) specifically investigates blood–brain barrier dysfunction using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) together with biomarker candidates and multimodal imaging to better understand immune-associated and neurovascular mechanisms in SSDs. By integrating multimodal imaging, biological samples, and advanced computational approaches, we aim to improve biologically informed patient stratification and contribute to the development of precision psychiatry.

• Precision psychiatry in schizophrenia spectrum disorders
• Deep clinical phenotyping and multimodal biomarker research
• Blood–brain barrier dysfunction and neurovascular imaging
• Multimodal MRI, EEG, retinal imaging, and multi-omics
• Machine learning and biomarker development

• Prof. Dr. med. Peter Falkai
• Dr. med. Joanna Moussiopoulou
• Dr. med Vladislav Yakimov
• Emanuel Bourdriot
• PHD candidates and doctoral students