Understanding Genetic Differences in Brain Disorders
Official title: Systematic Functional Interpretation of Regulatory Variants in Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Funded at Endeavor Health Clinical Operations · NIH-11010034 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how tiny genetic changes in brain cells might contribute to conditions like schizophrenia and other mental health challenges.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Endeavor Health Clinical Operations NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Evanston, United States) |
| Project start | May 4, 2016 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $718,916 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH106575-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11010034 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation, but future clinical applications would target individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not diagnosed with neuropsychiatric disorders would not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
Many genetic differences linked to brain disorders are found in parts of our DNA that don't directly make proteins, making their role hard to understand. This project uses special human brain cells grown in the lab, called induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) neurons, to see how these genetic differences change how DNA is organized and how genes are turned on or off. Researchers are particularly interested in how these changes happen when brain cells are active, as this might reveal new ways these genetic differences affect brain function and disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify the specific genetic changes and genes responsible for neuropsychiatric disorders, leading to new targets for treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work by this team has already identified regulatory variants affecting chromatin accessibility in human neurons, showing promise for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Endeavor Health Clinical Operations
Evanston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Duan, Jubao — Endeavor Health Clinical Operations
- Study coordinator: Duan, Jubao
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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.