Schizophrenia is a serious psychiatric disorder that affects about one percent of the population. Patients with schizophrenia have about 30% shorter life expectancy than healthy people. This is largely explained by a high risk of suicide and co-morbidity with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The drugs currently available can provide some symptom relief, but also increase the risk of further CVD. The need for new medicines that address the pathophysiological cause is therefore enormous! Our recent studies show that low-grade inflammation in the brain of patients contributes to the onset of symptoms. Changes in the immune system also play a central role in the development of CVD and suicidal behavior. Our multi-translational project aims to identify biomarkers in schizophrenia and to study genetic and molecular pathophysiological causes of these. We will study newly diagnosed patients with schizophrenia using advanced brain imaging techniques (PET), analyze central and peripheral levels of immune markers and study pathophysiological mechanisms in patient-specific cell cultures. We will also examine the patients for CVD and suicide risk and study biological risk factors for this comorbidity. The overall goal of our project is to identify pathophysiological mechanisms in schizophrenia and to find reasons for the co-morbidity of CVD and suicidal behavior. This will allow us to propose new pharmacological targets and treatment principles for schizophrenia.