Baszucki Group

The first results from the North Queensland Dietary Intervention Trial (NQDIT) are out in Frontiers in Nutrition.

This randomized controlled trial of ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT) in schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder was led by researchers at James Cook University and Townsville Hospital and Health Service, including Dr. Calogero Longhitano (@doncaloger0), Dr. Jaymee-Leigh Swift, Prof. Zoltan Sarnyai (@ZSarnyai) and colleagues.

The feasibility study reports that KMT is a feasible and safe therapeutic dietary intervention for individuals with serious mental illness and that high adherence was achieved under real-world conditions with self-prepared meals.

The psychiatric, cognitive, and metabolic outcomes will follow in a forthcoming paper.

Congratulations to the NQDIT team. Baszucki Group is honored to have supported this work.

Read the paper: frontiersin.org/journals/nutri…

Today we introduce the Global Network for the Advancement of Metabolic Psychiatry, MetPsy, built for researchers and clinicians dedicated to advancing metabolic interventions in mental health.

MetPsy gives the global community one place to find collaborators, access shared best practices and training, and follow the latest research. It also offers funders a clear entry point to support the field as it moves from promising studies to clinical implementation.

​​The launch coincides with a $20 million grant from Baszucki Group to establish the McLean Center for Metabolic Psychiatry at @McLeanHospital, a member of Mass General Brigham. A defining initiative for the field, the Center will combine research, clinical practice, and specialized training to deliver metabolic approaches in psychiatric care at scale, a model we hope will set the stage for others to follow.

A new study funded by Baszucki Group is bringing an innovative mental health model to resource-poor rural areas.

Led by Dr. Will Rutland, researchers at @UABHeersink are launching a new study in partnership with a local food bank and @HatchforHunger to deliver ketogenic food boxes to participants with bipolar disorder.

This community-based approach allows ketogenic therapy to be introduced alongside existing treatment modalities, with the goal of expanding care options in rural areas that experience severe shortages in psychiatric care.

“This study reflects something we deeply believe: that the communities with the greatest need should have access to the most promising treatments,” said Julie Milder, PhD, Director of Neuroscience at Baszucki Group. “Dr. Rutland and his team are proposing a model that takes equity seriously — using existing community infrastructure to conduct rigorous research within a population that is historically underrepresented in clinical research.”

Read more about how Dr. Rutland and his team are pioneering equity in clinical research: bit.ly/4jWLSaf

This week, members of the Baszucki Group team attended The Ketogenic Foundation’s inaugural conference, which highlighted emerging research and clinical applications in metabolic health and nutritional ketosis.

The program brought together leading scientists and clinicians exploring ketogenic therapies across a range of complex chronic conditions, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Metabolic psychiatry was prominently featured, with @GeorgiaEdeMD sharing clinical insights, followed by @GuidoFrank, Mary Phillips, MD, and @ZSarnyai sharing research across anorexia nervosa, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. This led into an engaged panel discussion moderated by Baszucki Group’s Julie Milder, PhD.

The event showcased extraordinary cross-disciplinary collaboration and scientific momentum. We commend The Ketogenic Foundation and @BrittanieVolk for convening such an impactful conference, and we remain dedicated to advancing research and practice at the intersection of mental health and metabolism.

New research indicates that experiential training builds health care professionals’ readiness to implement ketogenic metabolic therapy in mental health care.

bit.ly/4hwBpzP

@ProfDeannaK at @UMmedschool piloted a program combining education with firsthand experience in ketogenic metabolic therapy for healthcare providers.

Participants reported significant improvements in self-reported competence and perceived ability to engage in shared decision-making. This is an early but promising step toward building the clinical infrastructure to meet the growing demand for metabolic therapies in mental healthcare.

Read the Baszucki Group funded study:
frontiersin.org/journals/psych…