Understanding Rare Genetic Variations and Brain Health Across ADHD and Autism
Official title: Understanding Rare Genetic Variation and Disease Risk: A Global Neurogenetics Initiative
Funded at Sainte-Justine University Hospital Ctr · NIH-11311358 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how rare genetic changes affect brain structure and function in people with neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD and autism, using a large international dataset.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sainte-Justine University Hospital Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Montreal, Canada) |
| Project start | June 7, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $576,142 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH129858-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311358 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD or autism who may carry CNVs or have relevant genetic data and who can participate in neuroimaging studies.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without neurodevelopmental conditions or without CNV-related brain changes may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project will combine neuroimaging and genetic data from existing participant groups to create the largest dataset of its kind, focusing on copy number variants that impact brain development. Researchers will apply standardized methods across multiple sites in the US, Canada, and Norway to map how CNVs influence brain structure, connectivity, and function. They will also explore how common genetic variants may modify these effects and compare findings with patterns seen in idiopathic ADHD and autism. The goal is to uncover guiding principles linking CNV-related brain changes to behavioral outcomes and disease risk, potentially informing future interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could improve understanding of the biological bases of ADHD and autism, guiding more personalized diagnostics and interventions in the future.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows that integrating neuroimaging and genetics can reveal brain-behavior links, though this project aims to scale to a much larger, harmonized dataset.
Where this research is happening
-
Sainte-Justine University Hospital Ctr
Montreal, Canada Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jacquemont, Sebastien — Sainte-Justine University Hospital Ctr
- Study coordinator: Jacquemont, Sebastien
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.