Understanding the genetic causes of intellectual disability in diverse families
Official title: Elucidating the Genetic Etiology of Intellectual Disability in African, Asian, and European Families
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-10906931 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at the genes of families from different backgrounds to find out what might cause intellectual disability, hoping to help improve diagnosis and treatment for those affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 14, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $623,770 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD109342-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10906931 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are families with a member diagnosed with intellectual disability, particularly those from African, Asian, or European backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with intellectual disability caused by known factors such as Fragile X syndrome or environmental exposures will not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to identify the genetic factors that contribute to intellectual disability (ID) in families from African, Asian, and European backgrounds. By analyzing DNA samples from affected individuals and their parents, the study will utilize next-generation sequencing to uncover genetic variants associated with ID. The research will focus on families with a history of ID, excluding those with specific known causes, to better understand the genetic landscape of this condition. The findings could lead to improved diagnostic methods and potential treatments for individuals with ID.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the understanding of intellectual disability and lead to better diagnostic and treatment options for affected individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has successfully identified genetic variants associated with intellectual disability in various populations, indicating that this approach has potential for meaningful discoveries.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leal, Suzanne M — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Leal, Suzanne M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding genetic causes of intellectual disability across diverse populations
Aiming to find gene variants that contribute to intellectual disability in people from African, Asian, and European backgrounds to improve diagnosis and future treatments.
-
Understanding early cognitive skills in children with Down syndrome
We’re studying how early thinking skills develop in young children with Down syndrome and what factors influence severe intellectual disability later on.
-
Including Adults with Intellectual Disability in Precision Medicine
This grant funds a study to help adults with intellectual disability participate more fully in precision medicine research and understand how to respect their consent and privacy while sharing useful health information.
-
Step It Up+: helping adults with intellectual disability be more active
This 16-week program helps adults with intellectual disability use goal-setting, a web dashboard, and a support coach to increase daily steps and aerobic and strength activity.
-
Understanding brain responses in children with autism and intellectual disability
This project uses child-friendly EEG and eye-tracking to measure brain responses and looking patterns in 6–11-year-old children with autism and intellectual disability.
-
Understanding and fixing SETD5-related brain problems in children with autism and intellectual disability
Developing treatments that target the SETD5 gene to help young children with autism and intellectual disability.
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.