New MSU project works to increase stakeholder involvement in psychosis research

May 19, 2026 - Shelly DeJong

We are pleased to announce that Michigan State University has been approved for a funding award through the Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award Program, an initiative of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The funds will support a project to increase stakeholder involvement in psychosis research. 

Drs. Katy Thakkar and Henry Cowan from the MSU Department of Psychology, John Waller from the Social Science Scholars Program and Professor of History at MSU, and Miles McNall from University Outreach and Engagement will lead the project.   

Historically, research on psychotic disorders like schizophrenia has focused on reducing symptoms, mainly by comparing different antipsychotic medications and seeing which one is better at reducing symptoms. But this doesn’t always align with the preferences and priorities of people living with schizophrenia.   

“People living with psychosis often report that while symptom reduction is important, they are more interested in long-term personal recovery focused on increasing well-being and quality of life, and finding community, meaning, and purpose,” said Dr. Thakkar. “To resolve this disconnect between the research being done and the priorities and preferences of people living with psychosis, it is essential to include people affected by psychotic disorders in co-constructing research priorities.” 

To make sure all voices are heard, the researchers will develop a research infrastructure to facilitate ongoing consultation with stakeholders (people living with psychosis, clinicians, and caregivers) with the goal of creating a lasting, patient-focused approach, where people with personal experience, researchers, and other stakeholders work together as equal partners in clinical research focused on personal recovery.  

The project aims to increase stakeholder involvement in research, generate a research agenda based on stakeholder priorities, and develop tools to support meaningful collaboration with stakeholders. 

This work is part of a portfolio of projects funded by PCORI to help develop a community of patients, caregivers, clinicians and other stakeholders who are better equipped to engage as partners in all phases of patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) and to disseminate results of PCORI-funded studies.  

PCORI is a nonprofit organization with a mission to fund patient-centered CER designed to provide patients and those who care for them with evidence to make better-informed health care decisions.