Immuno-metabolism & Severe Mental Illness Group
We conduct research across the translational spectrum to understand how immune and metabolic processes contribute to the development and progression of severe mental illnesses, such as psychosis and schizophrenia.
Our work ranges from basic mechanistic studies in human cohorts, through to clinical trials of targeted immuno-metabolic interventions.
Our goal is to identify immune and metabolic biomarkers that can inform early detection, stratify risk, and guide personalised treatment approaches. We lead major national and international studies, such as the PIMS (Psychosis Immune Mechanism Stratified Medicine Study) to explore the links between inflammation, metabolism, and large-scale trials focused on clinical outcomes in early psychosis. We collaborate closely with patients, public and clinicians Early Intervention in Psychosis services to ensure our research is grounded in clinical practice and need.
Our team comprises researchers with expertise in psychiatry, immunology, neuroscience, lived experience and data science. Together, they integrate neuroimaging, genomics, proteomics, and digital health tools to uncover new treatment targets and develop precision psychiatry frameworks. Our collective efforts aim to transform our understanding and care for people living with severe mental illness.
Our team
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Rachel Upthegrove
Professor of Psychiatry, Director NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre
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Anthony Quinn
NIHR SMILE Bioresource Project Manager
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Chloe Yap
Clinical Researcher
Selected Research Projects
PIMS
The Psychosis Immune Mechanism Stratification (PIMS) project investigates immune dysfunction as a key mechanism underpinning psychotic disorders. It combines clinical, cognitive, and immunological profiling to define biologically meaningful subgroups of patients, stratified by plasma IL-6, who may benefit from immune-targeted treatments. PIMS is supported by the Medical Research Council and is part of a wider collaboration, including the University of Bristol and University of Birmingham, to advance personalised medicine in psychiatry.
ADEPP
The ADEPP (Antidepressant use for the prevention of depression following first-episode psychosis) trial is a multi-centre randomised controlled trial investigating whether early antidepressant treatment can prevent the onset of depression after a first episode of psychosis. The trial addresses a critical unmet need in psychosis care, as depression is highly prevalent and associated with poor functional outcomes.
EPICare
The Early Psychosis Intervention Care (EPICare) study focuses on improving outcomes in early intervention services by understanding the clinical, biological, and social determinants of long-term recovery in psychosis. The project leverages linked electronic health records and prospective data collection to examine real-world treatment pathways and outcomes. This work supports service development and the design of pragmatic trials.
NIHR Oxford Health BRC Molecular Targets Theme
Funded under the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), we aim to identify and validate molecular targets in severe mental illness that could inform future therapeutic strategies. We contribute to this theme by developing back translation from patient studies, integrating clinical data with biological measures such as genomics, proteomics, and inflammatory markers, to uncover new pathways involved in psychosis progression and treatment response.
SMILE BioResource
The SMILE BioResource is part of the NIHR BioResource and aims to establish a deeply genotyped and phenotyped re-contactable cohort of patients with severe mental illness, together with stored samples, for recall to future studies. The SMILE BioResource project launched in 2025 and is funded by the NIHR Mental Health TRC Mission. This project is a collaboration between the NIHR BioResource, Cardiff University, King's College London, the University of Birmingham, and the University of Oxford. Members of the department working on the SMILE BioResource include Rachel Upthegrove (CI), Anthony Quinn, Thomas Johnson, and Rob McCutcheon.