Monday, January 19, 2026 1/19/2026

SCH: Acoustic Sensing-Based Wearable system for Monitoring Social Dysfunction in Schizophrenia

Award Number: R01MH122371
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/23/2019
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

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SCH: Acoustic Sensing-Based Wearable system for Monitoring Social Dysfunction in Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It is associated with subtle abnormalities in day-to-day social behaviors and one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. Unfortunately, little is known about the abnormalities in real-world social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia, how their abnormalities correlate with clinical symptoms and progress over time as a consequence of therapeutic interventions. The real-world assessment of personal space - the physical distance that one maintains from others during social interactions - can be used to develop and efficiently evaluate potential treatments for schizophrenia and help improve patients' day-to- day functioning. The goal of this study is to objectively quantify the amount of real-world social interactions and the physical distance maintained from others in individuals with schizophrenia. Specific research aims include: 1) Design and implement a neck-worn device that employs acoustic signals to detect human targets that the patient interacts with. 2) Design a method to simultaneously measure the distance between the patient and multiple targets at an accuracy level of 2 cm with ultrasound. 3) Explore the unique markers of social functioning in healthy individuals and patients with schizophrenia by integrating the personal space information and other multi-dimensional contextual and behavioral information, and 4) Develop an algorithm that extracts relevant features from the obtained data that can be used to assess the level of social motivation and the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia patients. We believe that progress towards moving schizophrenia treatment to a scientific process rooted in objective measurement and performance in the real-world would contribute to a major paradigm shift in the field. More specifically, the outcomes of the proposed research - if successful - will transform the understanding and treatment of schizophrenia, opening a new door leading to previously unexplored datasets and potentially new development of personalized disease management, which well-aligns with the mission of the National Institute of Mental Health. RELEVANCE (See Instructions): The real-world assessment of personal space can be used to develop and evaluate potential treatments for schizophrenia and help improve patients' day-to-day functioning. The goal of this study is to objectively quantify the amount of real-world social interactions and the physical distance maintained from others in individuals with schizophrenia. The proposed study will open a new door leading to previously unexplored datasets and new development of personalized disease management in schizophrenia.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2022	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS	101 COMMONWEALTH AVE	AMHERST	MA	01003	HAMPSHIRE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	11/24/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2022	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS	101 COMMONWEALTH AVE	AMHERST	MA	01003	HAMPSHIRE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	3/25/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2022	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS	101 COMMONWEALTH AVE	AMHERST	MA	01003	HAMPSHIRE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	7/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $275,411 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS	COMMONWEALTH AVE	AMHERST	MA	01003	HAMPSHIRE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	7/5/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$275,411
														Subtotal = $275,411

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $280,993 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS	COMMONWEALTH AVE	AMHERST	MA	01003	HAMPSHIRE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	6/29/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$280,993
														Subtotal = $280,993

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $290,135 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS	COMMONWEALTH AVE	AMHERST	MA	01003	HAMPSHIRE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	7/16/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$290,135
														Subtotal = $290,135

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $297,582 )
2019	2019	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS	COMMONWEALTH AVE	AMHERST	MA	01003	HAMPSHIRE	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	9/21/2019	NEW	$297,582
														Subtotal = $297,582

Grand Total All Awards = $1,144,121

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SCH: Acoustic Sensing-Based Wearable system for Monitoring Social Dysfunction in Schizophrenia

Award Number: R01MH122371

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/23/2019

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

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