The Columbia Schizophrenia Research Center

The Columbia Schizophrenia Research Center (CSRC) is located at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) on the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Campus and is part of the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry.

Our research center includes a team of doctors, trained research scientists, and other staff. We specialize in research of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, individuals at clinically high risk for schizophrenia, and other related psychotic disorders. We conduct several compensated research studies at any given time, all of which are designed to answer questions about the nature and causes of schizophrenia and related disorders, and optimal treatment approaches. Occasionally, our studies examine other psychiatric disorders or healthy volunteers.

About Our Research

The Columbia Schizophrenia Research Center (CSRC) supports a number of compensated research studies designed to answer questions about the nature and causes of schizophrenia and optimal treatment approaches. At any given time, we are typically conducting and recruiting for multiple different studies, for which the specifics may vary. Studies are typically conducted on individuals with the following: a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (for studies of schizophrenia and related disorders) or no current or past psychiatric diagnoses (for healthy volunteer studies), aged 18-65, no significant medical problems, no recent history of significant violence or self-injurious behavior, no current alcohol or substance use disorder, and ability to give informed consent for research procedures. Most, but not all, of our studies for schizophrenia or related disorders involve participants continuing to take antipsychotic medication while participating in the research study. Any exceptions are included in the brief study summaries above.
All our research studies are conducted in person at our center, which is located at the New York State Psychiatric Institute building, in Washington Heights (Manhattan, NY). Although some of the procedures involved in research participation can be completed virtually/remotely for some studies, most visits will require the participant to be present in person. Participation in our studies lasts anywhere from a few weeks to over a year, depending on the study, and all studies are compensated.

Research studies are not designed for the individual’s direct benefit. However, research findings that may have clinical significance for treatment are reported to the individual’s clinician. We also maintain communication with our research participants’ clinicians (their psychiatrist or treatment team, if they have one) during the research process. Medications administered as part of research procedures are free of cost. However, we cannot cover the cost of medications that participants are taking outside of our research. Once the research study is completed, and if needed for the participant, we will make an outside referral for patient care. 

What are some of the research studies conducted through the Columbia Schizophrenia Research Center (CSRC)?

• Clinical drug trials of new medications, devices, or behavioral treatments for cognitive symptoms (problem solving and memory), negative symptoms (lack of motivation and socialization), or treatment-resistant symptoms in schizophrenia
• Studies of novel, state-of-the-art treatments
• Studies of brain anatomy and chemistry using EEG, MRI, MRS, or PET
• Electrophysiological and functional brain imaging evaluation of information processing and memory (e.g., the brain’s reaction to sensory stimulation and memory tasks)

In general, what procedures are involved in our research studies?

• Medical safety workup, including a physical exam (vital signs, EKG and blood draw, and urine collection for clinical laboratory tests, urine pregnancy tests (if applicable) and, drug tests)
• Experimental pharmaceutical treatment (in the form of a drug, digital therapy, brain stimulation, or placebo)
• EEG, MRI or PET scans
• Psychiatric assessment by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or staff member (using standardized assessment tools [SCID-5 or MINI & PANSS]) and other questionnaires about schizophrenia symptoms and mood
• Cognitive assessments (i.e. MATRICS)

Leadership Staff and Contact Info

General Inquiries:
646-774-8496

Joshua Kantrowitz, MD
Director, Columbia Schizophrenia Research Center
New York State Psychiatric Institute
1051 Riverside Drive, Suite 1800
New York, NY 10032
Joshua.Kantrowitz@nyspi.columbia.edu

Shannon Peleg, BA
Associate Director, Columbia Schizophrenia Research Center
New York State Psychiatric Institute
1051 Riverside Drive, Suite 1800
New York, NY 10032
Shannon.Peleg@nyspi.columbia.edu

Current Clinical Trials

Treatment Studies:

Exercise Study (Olanzapine and Samidorphan)

Study Title: A Proof-of-Concept Study of Time Limited Exercise Plus Olanzapine and Samidorphan for the Prevention of Early Weight Gain

Clinical Trial Link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06740890?term=NCT06740890&rank=1

Brief Description: This is a single-site trial for individuals with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar I/II/NOS disorder. Participants will receive eight weeks of olanzapine and samidorphan (Olz/Sam) plus four weeks of aerobic exercise (2-4 times per week) with intensity levels personalized to their heart rate. The study will assess whether using an FDA-approved treatment (Olz/Sam) combined with an exercise program can help with weight loss for individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar I/II/NOS disorder. 

REVISIT C Study(Clozapine)

Study Title: Clozapine for Prevention of Violence in Schizophrenia: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Clinical Trial Link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05208190(link is external and opens in a new window)(link is external and opens in a new window)

Brief Description: Individuals with schizophrenia who have a recent history of violent acts will be randomized in this 2-arm, parallel-group, 24-week, open-label, 7-site clinical trial to examine the effects of treatment with clozapine vs antipsychotic treatment as usual (TAU) for reducing the risk of violent acts in real-world settings.Participants with a recent history of violence will be randomized to receive either clozapine or TAU for 24 weeks, with all participantsreceiving a community-support program (PharmCAT) to help with medication adherence.

Upcoming Studies

BMS Study (Cobenfy)

Study Title: A Multimodal PET/MRI Study of Cobenfy on Dopamine Transmission in Schizophrenia

Clinical Trial Link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07423546

Brief Description: This study investigates how the FDA-approved medication Cobenfy (xanomeline/trospium) affects dopamine levels in the brains of individuals with schizophrenia. The study proposes that Cobenfy reduces symptoms of schizophrenia by modulating dopamine synthesis and release, which will be measured using advanced brain imaging. This study involves two positron emission tomography (PET) scans alongside a magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) scan to track brain changes. Participants will be free of other antipsychotics for at least 3 weeks before beginning 5 weeks of treatment with twice daily Cobenfy and will be seen weekly to monitor safety, weight, and symptoms. During the treatment period with Cobenfy (5 weeks), participants may participate as outpatients or inpatients at our inpatient research unit located within our institute.

ProCAN Study (MT1988)

Study Title: A Study to Explore Changes in Cognitive, Clinical, Biological and Digital Measures Following 8 Weeks of Twice-Daily Dosing of MT1988 and to Evaluate Safety & Tolerability of MT1988, in Participants at Clinical High Risk (CHR) for Psychosis

Clinical Trial Link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07226895

Brief Description: This study is for people at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis - meaning they have early warning signs but have not yet developed a full illness. The goal is to see if a new drug called MT1988 (a combination of tropisetron and varenicline) can improve brain function and symptoms like memory loss and social withdrawal in the CHR population. Participants will be randomly assigned to take either a low or high dose of the drug, or a placebo and will complete two EEGs before and after the treatment period. The study lasts about 15 weeks total, which includes 8 weeks of taking the study drug twice a day.

R33 Study (D-Serine) 

Study Title: D-Serine Augmentation of Neuroplasticity-Based Auditory Learning in Schizophrenia 

Clinical Trial Link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05046353(link is external and opens in a new window)

Brief Description: D-serine is a naturally occurring substance in the brain that activates the N-methyl-d-aspartate-type glutamate receptor (NMDAR). The study proposes that problems with the NMDAR receptor within the brain lead to impaired plasticity (learning), which in turn leads to impaired cognition associated with schizophrenia. This study trains participants to improve their ability to distinguish between two tones that differ in pitch (sound frequency) and other auditory-based learning programs (auditory remediation). Participants will be randomized to take either 100mg/kg of d-serine or placebo (1:1), and the effects will be assessed over 16 weekly sessions of auditory remediation. 

Healthy Volunteer Study:

Ketamine (SA2) 

Study Title: Glutamatergic mechanisms of psychosis and target engagement: Aim 2 

Clinical Trial Link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05401227(link is external and opens in a new window)

Brief Description: This is a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study aiming to evaluate the relative sensitivity of low, medium, and high ketamine doses to effects of FDA-approved medication TS-134Cobenfy (xanomeline/trospium) and whether this sensitivity is related to baseline glutamate-DA levels. Healthy volunteers will be randomized to one of three ketamine arms: low, medium, and high. Within each ketamine arm, participants will be randomized to 4 days of twice-daily Cobenfy or placebo in a 5:3 ratio. During the study, each participant will undergo a total of two intravenous ketamine sessions conducted during MRI scans. In between the two sessions, participants will complete a 4-day Treatment Period with twice daily Cobenfy or placebo, which may occur outpatient or inpatient at our inpatient research unit located within our institute.