COGS 
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The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has joined forces with university medical schools across the country including Harvard University, Mount Sinai, University of California Los Angeles, University of California San Diego, University of Colorado, University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Washington. Through this collaborative research project we hope to learn more about the genetic basis of schizophrenia. Understanding the genetic components of schizophrenia is crucial to finding out about the risk factors, and heritability of this illness. It may also help to create more effective treatments, and hopefully someday, find a cure.
Who Would Qualify?
:: Male or female between the ages of 18-65
:: Families with at least one member who has schizophrenia
What Will I do in this Study?
The study lasts about 2 half-days. We will NOT ask you to change your medications in ANY way. Each participant will be paid for all time spent participating in the study. Also, we may provide transportation to and from the testing site.
For more information on the tests involved, please see below for contact information.
If interested, please contact one of the sites below:
Mt. Sinai
(New York, NY)
Lauren Kryzak
212-659-5619
lauren.kryzak@mssm.edu
Harvard University
(Boston, MA)
Monica Landi, MSW
617-998-5015
cogs@bidmc.harvard.edu
University of California, Los Angeles & West LA VA
(Los Angeles, CA)
Karen Cornelius, PsyD
310-478-3711, x43929
karen.cornelius@med.va.gov University of Colorado
(Denver, CO)
Chris Cason
303-807-7382
chris.cason@uchsc.edu
University of Washington & VA Puget Sound Health Care System
(Seattle, WA)
Denise Pritzl, LCSW
800-597-5441 (toll free)
seacogs@u.washington.edu *
*The confidentiality of email communications cannot be guaranteed. University of California, San Diego (San Diego, CA)
Barbara Haugeland, PhD
619-543-7201
szresearch@ucsd.edu
University of Pennsylvania
(Philadelphia, PA)
Raquel E. Gur, MD, PhD, cogs@bbl.med.upenn.edu
Or Caryn Hussar at (888) 635-7780 (toll free)
If you’re not sure which site to contact or have any questions please call or email:
National Project Coordinator
Andras Kovach
866-359-2496 (toll free)
akovach@ucsd.edu
Additional Information
What will happen if you agree to participate in this study:
1. You will be interviewed about your medical and psychiatric history. You will be asked specific questions about problems or difficulties you might have had as well as how you think and act in a variety of situations.
2. You will complete a series of problem-solving tests, some of which will be administered by computer.
3. You will wear a special pair of glasses while you watch a dot move across a computer screen in order to record your eye movements.
4. Two sensors will be placed next to each eye while you listen to a series of brief tones so that your blink reflex can be measured.
5. You will have a total of 5 sensors placed around one eye, your ears, and the top of your head while you listen to a series of brief clicks or tones in order to measure your brain waves (EEG).
6. You will be asked to provide a blood sample. We want to learn more about the genetics of schizophrenia. Your blood sample will be used to extract DNA (genetic material) which will be stored for future study.
7. You will be asked to provide a specimen of urine to test for the presence of drug use. You will also be asked to give a sample of saliva for an alcohol test.
Head of Research at each site:
Mt. Sinai: Larry Siever, M.D.
Harvard University: Larry Seidman, Ph. D.
Univ. of California Los Angeles/West Los Angeles VA: Michael Green, Ph. D.
Univ. of California San Diego: David Braff, M.D., National Project Director
Univ. of Colorado: Robert Freedman, M.D.
Univ. of Pennsylvania: Raquel Gur, M.D., Ph.D.
Univ. of Washington: Debby Tsuang, M.D.
University IRB Approval Numbers:
Harvard: IRB# N021002, M10025-101, MSSM: IRB# 01-0550, UCLA: IRB# 02-09-073-02, UCSD: IRB # 040564, Colorado: IRB# 95-530, UPenn: IRB# 704030, UWash: IRB# 02-4875-V.