How genes relate to PTSD in people of African ancestry
Genetics of PTSD in African Ancestry Populations
This project looks at how genetic differences in people of African ancestry may affect the risk and biology of PTSD.
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 ID | NIH-11171592 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of a large collaboration that pools genetic and clinical information from African and global PTSD cohorts, including NeuroGAP and the Ugandan Genome Resource. Researchers will analyze DNA to find genetic variants linked to PTSD and use fine-mapping to pinpoint likely causal changes. They will also test how well existing polygenic risk scores work in African-ancestry groups and develop more accurate, population-specific tools. The project partners with African investigators to improve representation and make findings relevant to people of African descent.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people of African descent (including those with PTSD and trauma-exposed controls) who can provide DNA samples and clinical or trauma history information.
Not a fit: People without African ancestry or those seeking immediate clinical treatment may not get direct or immediate benefit because genetic discoveries take time to translate into care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve genetic risk prediction and help guide prevention or tailored treatments for PTSD in people of African ancestry.
How similar studies have performed: Large genetic studies in mainly European samples have found many PTSD risk loci and shown polygenic scores can be informative, but translating those results to African-ancestry populations is still limited and this work is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Broad Institute, INC. — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koenen, Karestan C — Broad Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Koenen, Karestan C
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.