Genetic and regulatory brain differences between people of African and European ancestry
Comprehensive computational analysis of genetic and regulatory differences between individuals with African and European ancestries across four brain regions
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11371442
This project compares DNA and gene-regulation patterns in brain tissue from people of African and European ancestry to help make mental health diagnosis and treatment fairer.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11371442 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze donated postmortem brain tissue from people with recent African ancestry (AA) and European ancestry (EA) across four brain regions (caudate nucleus, dentate gyrus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus). They will use large-scale genomic and epigenomic methods, including bisulfite-based sequencing, to map genetic and regulatory differences. The work draws on one of the largest psychiatric postmortem brain collections and includes hundreds of donors (AA n=784, EA n=678) and region-specific samples. Findings aim to explain ancestry-linked differences in diagnosis and responses to psychiatric medications and guide more equitable care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The data come from donated postmortem brain tissue from people of African or European ancestry, especially those with recorded psychiatric diagnoses.
Not a fit: People from ancestries other than African or European, and those seeking immediate changes to their personal treatment, are unlikely to receive direct short-term benefits from this postmortem research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve diagnostic accuracy and help develop psychiatric treatments that work better across ancestries.
How similar studies have performed: Large-scale ancestry-focused comparisons in human postmortem brain tissue are largely novel, since most prior genomic studies have focused on European-ancestry samples.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BENJAMIN, KYNON JADE M — NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: BENJAMIN, KYNON JADE M
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 below.
Conditions: Brain Diseases