Genetic sequencing of severe mental illnesses across diverse communities
2/3 Sequencing and Trans-Diagnostic Phenotyping of Severe Mental Illness in Diverse Populations
['FUNDING_R01'] · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · NIH-11125751
This project will use large-scale genetic sequencing to find genes linked to severe psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar I, and major depression in people from many different backgrounds.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11125751 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You or people like you could have DNA from a blood or saliva sample analyzed to look for rare and common genetic changes that contribute to severe psychiatric disorders. The team will use whole-exome sequencing and genome-wide genotyping on more than 150,000 people with severe diagnoses and a similar number of controls, combining samples from sites across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Local clinics will collect samples and clinical information with consent and ethical approvals, then a central partner will run the laboratory assays and the coordinating center will harmonize and analyze the data. Work will proceed in phases, starting with existing samples and then adding new participants over several years.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with lifetime diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar I disorder, or severe major depressive disorder who can provide informed consent and a DNA sample, including participants from diverse global populations.
Not a fit: People without these specific severe psychiatric diagnoses, those seeking immediate clinical treatment from participation, or those unable or unwilling to provide consent or a DNA sample are unlikely to gain direct benefit from joining.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal genetic causes that lead to better diagnostic tests, new treatment targets, or more personalized care for people with severe psychiatric conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous large psychiatric genomics projects have identified risk genes and informed biology for conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but this project's larger, transdiagnostic, and globally diverse scale is newer and less-tested at this magnitude.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CHARNEY, ALEXANDER W — ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- Study coordinator: CHARNEY, ALEXANDER W
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.