Genetic study of severe mental illness across diverse populations
Official title: 3/3 Sequencing and Trans-Diagnostic Phenotyping of Severe Mental Illness in Diverse Populations
Funded at Cardiff University · NIH-11384459 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large international study will look at DNA from people with severe mental illness and healthy controls to understand the genetic factors that contribute to these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cardiff University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cardiff, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $528,444 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH130672-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384459 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar I disorder, or severe major depressive disorder, as well as healthy controls, who consent to participate and provide DNA samples.
✕Less likely to help
People without these conditions or who do not participate in genetic studies may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project will collect DNA from over 150,000 people with severe psychiatric disorders and a similar number of controls from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. It will use whole-exome sequencing and SNP-array genotyping to explore rare and common genetic variations, with data coordinated across sites in the US, Europe, and Asia. Regeneron Genomics Center will perform the genomic assays, enabling cost-effective, large-scale analysis. The study aims to identify genetic targets that could inform new treatments and improve understanding of how genetics influence severe mental illness across diverse populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new genetic targets for therapy and improve personalized approaches to treating severe mental illness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous large genetic studies have identified important genetic risk factors, and this project builds on that foundation with a much larger and more diverse sample.
Where this research is happening
-
Cardiff University
Cardiff, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walters, James Tynan Rhys — Cardiff University
- Study coordinator: Walters, James Tynan Rhys
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.