£1.17 Million Grant for Psychosis Study
The Baszucki Group has announced a £1.17 million grant to fund a clinical trial at the University of Oxford. This study focuses on the effectiveness of a ketogenic diet in individuals at high risk of developing psychosis (CHR-P). The trial will assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of this nutritional intervention to improve participants’ mental and physical health.
Targeting patients aged 14-35, the trial will involve 50 participants. They will be randomly assigned to either a 12-week modified ketogenic diet or a control diet. Registered dietitians will support participants, and monitoring with glucose and ketone metres will ensure adherence to the diet.
Potential Impact of the Study
The study aims to evaluate symptom severity using the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS). It will assess outcomes such as cognitive function, sleep behaviour, and physical health, with follow-up monitoring extending up to three years through electronic health records.
Dr. Amedeo Minichino, the study lead, stated, “We see promise in ketogenic therapy as a non-stigmatizing, accessible intervention for those navigating early signs of psychosis.” Jan Ellison Baszucki, co-founder of Baszucki Group, added, “This study is a rare opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how ketogenic therapy could fundamentally transform the trajectory of serious mental illness.”
Researchers will investigate underlying biological mechanisms by measuring brain energy metabolism, including mitochondrial function, in a subgroup of participants using blood biomarkers and neuroimaging. The team hopes that intervening during the critical window before psychotic onset can alter the long-term mental health trajectory of patients.
Since most CHR-P patients do not receive antipsychotics, this study addresses an urgent need for novel interventions. Updates on the trial and further research funded by Baszucki Group can be accessed on the Metabolic Mind website.
Last updated: 29 June 2026, 12:01 pm
