Asian Bipolar Genetics Network — genetics of bipolar disorder in Asian adults
Official title: 1/4 Asian Bipolar Genetics Network (A-BIG-NET)
Funded at Broad Institute, INC. · NIH-11397172 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how genetic differences contribute to bipolar disorder in adults of East and South Asian ancestry by collecting DNA and detailed clinical and life-stressor information.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Broad Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $448,145 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH130675-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397172 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults (21 years or older) of East or South Asian ancestry who have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, along with unaffected adults of similar ancestry who can serve as controls.
✕Less likely to help
People under 21, those without Asian ancestry, or anyone expecting immediate changes to their clinical care should not expect direct personal benefit from participation.
What this research studies
This project will gather DNA and detailed health information from thousands of adults of East and South Asian backgrounds, including about 27,500 people with bipolar disorder and 16,000 without it. Researchers will use low-pass whole genome sequencing (4xWGS) to find common and rare genetic variants and will link genetics with symptom details and environmental stressors. The work is run by an international network across Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Pakistan, and the U.S. to fill gaps left by mostly-European studies of bipolar disorder. If you join, you may be asked for a blood or saliva sample and to share medical records and questionnaires about symptoms and life experiences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal genetic risk factors that lead to better diagnosis, more tailored treatments, and reduced health disparities for Asian people with bipolar disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous large genetic efforts, mainly in people of European ancestry, found some bipolar-associated genes but left many variants unexplained, so applying these methods to Asian populations is both novel and builds on prior successes.
Where this research is happening
-
Broad Institute, INC.
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Hailiang — Broad Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Huang, Hailiang
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.