Psychiatric Genomics Consortium: finding genetic causes of mental health conditions

1/7 PGC: Advancing Discovery and Impact

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11042224

Researchers worldwide are combining genetic data to find DNA differences linked to major psychiatric conditions to help people with those illnesses.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-11042224 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be part of a global effort where scientists pool genetic and clinical data from people with psychiatric conditions. The team combines common genetic variation, rare copy-number changes, and exome/genome sequencing results and aligns these with large biobank datasets for stronger comparisons. They are working to include people from diverse ancestral backgrounds and share summary results openly so other researchers can build on the findings. Together this approach aims to pinpoint genetic links that could guide better diagnosis and future treatments.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are people diagnosed with major psychiatric disorders (for example schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, or autism spectrum disorder) who can provide genetic samples and health information.

Not a fit: People without psychiatric diagnoses, those unwilling to provide genetic samples or health records, or those seeking immediate changes to their treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify biological causes of psychiatric disorders and help guide more accurate diagnosis and development of new, more personalized treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Previous PGC efforts have already identified roughly 500 genetic loci across psychiatric disorders and produced many high-profile publications, so this project builds on a proven and productive program.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.