Asian Bipolar Genetics Network

1/4 Asian Bipolar Genetics Network (A-BIG-NET)

NIH-funded research Broad Institute, INC. · NIH-11393554

Collecting genetic and health information from adults of Asian ancestry with and without bipolar disorder to find genetic factors that influence the illness.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBroad Institute, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cambridge, United States)
Project IDNIH-11393554 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

I would be asked to share health and life-stress information and give a DNA sample so researchers can compare people with bipolar disorder to people without it. The project will combine data from many sites across East and South Asia and use low-pass whole genome sequencing to look for both common and rare genetic differences. The team plans to build a large resource of about 27,500 cases and 16,000 controls with detailed clinical and environmental data. This could help scientists understand which genes and environmental factors contribute to bipolar symptoms in Asian populations.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults (21 years and older) of East or South Asian ancestry with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder — and adult Asian controls without bipolar — who can provide a DNA sample and clinical information are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Children under 21, people who are not of Asian ancestry, and anyone seeking immediate changes in clinical care are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal genetic causes of bipolar disorder in Asian people and help guide future tests and treatments tailored to these populations.

How similar studies have performed: Large genetic studies in mostly European populations have identified risk genes for bipolar disorder, but large-scale, deeply phenotyped studies focused on Asian populations are newer and less explored.

Where this research is happening

Cambridge, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.