Clinical study - results
• As main finding, the PRISM2 clinical study showed reproducibility and generalizability of the identified quantitative biological biomarkers of social dysfunction and Default Mode Network (DMN) integrity (
https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.09.631642(öffnet in neuem Fenster)) that accounted for patient stratification in PRISM1. Based on the identified quantitative biological parameters in PRISM1, a refined and optimized test battery was implemented as part of the PRISM2 clinical study.
• Following the execution of the PRISM2 clinical study, subsequent data pre-processing and data analyses according to the developed statistical analysis plan, the consortium has reproduced the transdiagnostic and pathophysiological relationship between DMN integrity and social dysfunction in SZ and AD that was identified in the PRISM1 project.
• In addition, in PRISM2 this neurobiological finding was generalised to Major Depressive Disorders (MDD).
Animal study - results
• PRISM2 also tested for the causality between DMN integrity and social dysfunction. Therefore, rodent studies were implemented that allow for specific interventions to manipulate DMN integrity, namely through demyelination and chemo-genetic technologies in specific brain regions. Using a variety of animal studies, PRISM2 showed causality between DMN integrity and social dysfunction. For example, rodent studies in the social arena task indicated a decrease in social activity in animals with sub-chronically activated DREADDs in Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC) neurons.
• Furthermore, a complementary approach of forceps minor demyelination also affected social behaviors in the social arena task (doi:10.1038/s41598-024-81930-w). The chemogenetic manipulations as well as the forceps minor demyelination led to impairment of DMN integrity as shown by functional ultrasound measurements and EEG assessments.
• In addition, resting state EEG measurements in the socially deficient DRD2 autoreceptor genetic mouse line have been performed and showed, comparable to the human findings, altered connectivity between nodes of the DMN.
• PRISM2 investigated the global and local-regional shared genetics between sociability and default mode network activity/connectivity, using global genetic correlation, local genetic correlation and colocalization in the UK biobank data. Final results support specific genetic correlations with default mode network (doi: 10.1101/2024.05.24.24307883).
Communication, dissemination and data management - results
• A communication and dissemination plan has been generated and measures were evaluated regularly. Successful dissemination and communication of the PRISM 2 activities was facilitated and achieved by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology’s (ECNP) through their extensive network of stakeholders (
https://www.ecnp.eu/?sc_itemid=%7BF2028432-FAD1-42E7-ADE4-28565A7EC9D1%7D(öffnet in neuem Fenster)).
• We have finalized a formal EMA qualification procedure for a novel digital endpoint for social dysfunction.
• Patient events were organized, such as the presentation of the PRISM2 study at the EUFAMI bi-annual congress.
• Scientific publications have been generated and submitted to international peer-reviewed journals, with the particular highlights of, a podcast (
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1734430/episodes/14644454(öffnet in neuem Fenster)) and a video that have been produced to inform the general scientific community about the PRISM2 findings and its impact.
• Finally, for data sharing beyond the duration of the project, data management, data sustainability and exploitation plans were delivered. In line with these plans, the EPND platform (
https://epnd.org/resources/announcing-the-enhanced-epnd-catalogue(öffnet in neuem Fenster)) will be used for PRISM data accessibility for the general scientific community.