Baszucki Group Funds Groundbreaking Oxford University Trial Exploring Ketogenic Therapy for Early Psychosis Prevention
Baszucki Group has awarded a £1.17 million grant to the University of Oxford to support a pioneering clinical trial investigating whether a ketogenic diet can help improve mental and physical health outcomes in individuals at high risk of developing psychosis. The study represents one of the most comprehensive efforts to date to evaluate the role of metabolic therapies in preventing serious mental illness before it fully emerges.
The randomized controlled trial will focus on people identified as being at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P), a population characterized by subtle but concerning symptoms that may precede the onset of psychotic disorders. Researchers hope that by intervening during this critical early stage, ketogenic therapy could offer a safe, accessible, and non-stigmatizing treatment option capable of altering the course of mental illness before psychosis develops.
The initiative reflects growing scientific interest in the connection between metabolism and brain health, an area that has gained increasing attention as researchers seek alternatives to conventional psychiatric treatments. By supporting this ambitious study, Baszucki Group aims to advance understanding of how dietary interventions may influence mental health outcomes and potentially open new pathways for prevention and treatment.
Addressing a Critical Gap in Psychosis Prevention
Psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia are among the most challenging mental health conditions worldwide. They often lead to significant impairment in daily functioning, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare needs. Individuals affected by psychosis also experience substantially shorter life expectancies compared with the general population, due to both mental and physical health complications.
Importantly, psychosis rarely appears suddenly. Most patients experience an extended period of subtle warning signs before the condition fully develops. These symptoms may include unusual thoughts, mild perceptual disturbances, social withdrawal, declining academic or occupational performance, anxiety, depression, and changes in behavior. Researchers refer to individuals experiencing these early symptoms as being at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P).
The identification of CHR-P individuals has become increasingly sophisticated over the past two decades, with clinicians now able to detect many people who may be at elevated risk of progressing to psychotic disorders. However, despite advances in diagnosis, treatment options remain limited.
Currently, there is no approved intervention specifically designed to prevent the transition from CHR-P status to full psychosis. Existing approaches typically involve monitoring symptoms, providing psychological support, and addressing associated mental health challenges. As a result, mental health researchers continue searching for innovative strategies that can safely intervene during this vulnerable stage.
The Oxford study seeks to address this unmet need by evaluating whether ketogenic therapy can provide meaningful clinical benefits before psychosis develops.
Investigating the Potential of Ketogenic Therapy
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate nutritional approach that shifts the body’s primary energy source from glucose to ketones. When carbohydrate intake is significantly reduced, the liver produces ketones, which can serve as an alternative fuel source for the brain and other organs.
Originally developed as a treatment for epilepsy, ketogenic diets have been used in clinical medicine for more than a century. In recent years, researchers have begun exploring their potential applications in neurological and psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and schizophrenia.
Emerging evidence suggests that metabolic dysfunction may play a significant role in certain mental illnesses. Some studies indicate that abnormalities in energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, inflammation, insulin signaling, and neurotransmitter regulation may contribute to psychiatric symptoms. Because ketogenic therapy affects many of these biological systems, researchers are increasingly interested in its potential therapeutic effects.
The Oxford trial will provide a rigorous scientific evaluation of whether these metabolic changes can translate into measurable improvements for individuals experiencing early signs of psychosis.
Study Design and Participant Enrollment
The randomized controlled trial will enroll 50 participants between the ages of 14 and 35 who meet established criteria for Clinical High Risk for Psychosis.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will follow a 12-week modified ketogenic diet, while the other will follow a control diet for comparison purposes. Randomization helps ensure that any observed differences between groups can be more confidently attributed to the dietary intervention itself rather than other factors.
Throughout the study, participants will receive ongoing support from registered dietitians who will provide guidance, education, and assistance with dietary adherence. Maintaining a ketogenic diet can require significant lifestyle adjustments, making professional support an important component of the research protocol.
To help monitor compliance, participants in the ketogenic group will use glucose and ketone monitoring devices that provide objective measurements of metabolic status. These tools allow researchers to determine whether participants are successfully achieving and maintaining nutritional ketosis during the intervention period.
Comprehensive Assessment of Mental and Physical Health
Researchers will employ a wide range of clinical assessments to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ketogenic therapy.
A primary focus will be the measurement of psychosis-related symptoms using the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS), a specialized diagnostic instrument developed to assess symptom severity and psychosis risk in young people. This validated tool enables clinicians to track changes in symptoms over time and evaluate whether the intervention reduces indicators associated with psychotic progression.
In addition to monitoring psychiatric symptoms, the research team will assess several other important domains of health and functioning.
Cognitive performance will be evaluated to determine whether ketogenic therapy influences memory, attention, executive functioning, and information processing. Since cognitive difficulties frequently accompany psychosis risk states, improvements in these areas could have meaningful implications for long-term outcomes.
Sleep behavior will also be monitored, as sleep disturbances are commonly reported among individuals at risk for psychosis and may contribute to worsening symptoms. Researchers hope to determine whether metabolic changes associated with ketogenic therapy positively affect sleep quality and stability.
Physical health measures will form another key component of the study. Investigators will track weight, metabolic markers, cardiovascular indicators, and other health metrics to understand how the dietary intervention affects overall well-being.
By combining psychiatric, cognitive, behavioral, and physical assessments, the trial aims to generate a comprehensive picture of ketogenic therapy’s potential benefits and limitations.
Long-Term Follow-Up to Measure Lasting Impact
One of the study’s most distinctive features is its extended follow-up period.
Rather than focusing solely on short-term symptom changes, researchers will continue monitoring participants’ health outcomes for up to three years after completion of the intervention through electronic health records.
This long-term observation period will allow investigators to evaluate whether any benefits achieved during the ketogenic intervention persist over time. It will also provide valuable insights into whether ketogenic therapy influences rates of progression to psychotic disorders, healthcare utilization, hospitalization, and broader mental health outcomes.
Such longitudinal data are essential for determining whether early interventions can meaningfully alter disease trajectories and improve long-term quality of life.
Exploring the Biological Mechanisms Behind Psychosis Risk
Beyond clinical outcomes, the study also seeks to deepen scientific understanding of the biological processes underlying psychosis and ketogenic therapy.
Researchers increasingly recognize that disturbances in brain energy metabolism may play an important role in the development of serious mental illness. Evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired cellular energy production may contribute to neurological and psychiatric symptoms in some individuals.
According to current hypotheses, abnormalities in brain metabolism could potentially serve as early indicators of vulnerability to psychosis. Understanding these mechanisms may help researchers identify which individuals are most likely to benefit from targeted metabolic interventions.
To investigate these questions, a subgroup of participants will undergo advanced biological assessments, including blood biomarker analysis and neuroimaging studies. These evaluations will allow researchers to directly examine changes in brain energy metabolism and explore how ketogenic therapy influences underlying biological pathways.
The findings could contribute not only to psychosis prevention research but also to broader efforts aimed at understanding the metabolic foundations of mental illness.
Researchers Express Optimism About the Study
Leading the project is Dr. Amedeo Minichino, Associate Professor, Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, and Wellcome Trust Early Career Fellow at the University of Oxford.
According to Minichino, ketogenic therapy offers a promising and accessible approach for individuals experiencing early signs of psychosis. He noted that if the intervention proves effective, it could provide clinicians with a novel preventive tool that can be implemented before psychotic symptoms fully emerge.
Researchers involved in the study believe that targeting the critical period preceding psychosis may offer one of the greatest opportunities to improve long-term outcomes for vulnerable patients. By intervening early, they hope to reduce suffering, preserve functioning, and potentially prevent progression to more severe psychiatric illness.
Baszucki Group’s Commitment to Metabolic Psychiatry Research
The study aligns closely with Baszucki Group’s mission to advance research at the intersection of metabolism, neuroscience, and psychiatry.
Founded in 2021 by Roblox founder David Baszucki and author Jan Ellison Baszucki, the organization supports initiatives aimed at driving transformative change across healthcare, science, agriculture, food systems, and environmental sustainability.
A major focus of the group’s philanthropic efforts involves exploring how metabolic interventions may improve outcomes for individuals living with mental health disorders. Through grant funding, advocacy, education, and community-building initiatives, Baszucki Group has become a prominent supporter of emerging research in metabolic psychiatry.
Jan Ellison Baszucki described the Oxford trial as a significant opportunity to better understand how ketogenic therapy may influence both mental and physical health among individuals at elevated risk of psychosis. She emphasized the importance of studying largely medication-naive populations to gain clearer insights into the effects of metabolic interventions.
Advancing a New Frontier in Mental Health Care
As interest in metabolic psychiatry continues to grow, the Oxford clinical trial represents an important milestone in evaluating whether nutritional interventions can play a meaningful role in preventing serious mental illness.
If successful, the research could help establish ketogenic therapy as a valuable addition to the limited treatment options currently available for individuals at high risk of psychosis. More broadly, it may strengthen scientific understanding of the relationship between metabolism and brain function, potentially influencing future approaches to psychiatric care.
With substantial funding, rigorous methodology, and long-term follow-up, the study has the potential to generate important evidence that could shape the future of preventive mental health treatment and provide new hope for individuals facing the early warning signs of psychotic disorders.
About Baszucki Group
Launched in 2021 by Roblox founder and Chief Executive Officer David Baszucki and best-selling author Jan Ellison Baszucki, Baszucki Group leverages grantmaking, impact investing, advocacy, storytelling, and community building to drive foundational change in science, medicine, farming, food, and environmental ecosystems. A primary focus of Baszucki Group is supporting initiatives at the intersection of metabolism, psychiatry, and neuroscience with the goal of improving mental health outcomes
