Whole-chromosome fine-mapping across diverse ancestries to understand psychiatric disorders
Official title: Whole chromosome fine-mapping integrating diverse ancestries for psychiatric disorders
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11515882 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to pinpoint the exact genetic changes that contribute to bipolar disorder and related conditions by using diverse populations to improve accuracy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00MH135172-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11515882 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with bipolar disorder or related psychiatric conditions, and individuals whose genetic data are part of large ancestry-diverse cohorts.
✕Less likely to help
People not included in genetic research databases or without access to participating cohorts may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project develops new statistical genetics methods that use diverse human ancestry to better identify the specific genetic variants that influence psychiatric disorders. It will apply these methods to large genetic datasets to improve fine-mapping of causal genes and biological pathways. The goal is to create a framework that helps translate genetic discoveries into better understanding and potential future treatments for conditions like bipolar disorder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to clearer targets for therapies and more personalized insights into bipolar disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous multi-ancestry genetic studies have improved fine-mapping, though challenges remain and this work aims to advance those methods further.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yuan, Kai — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Yuan, Kai
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Neuronal signals guiding deep brain stimulation for neuropsychiatric disorders
A doctor-scientist at Stanford plans to study how deep brain stimulation changes brain cells and circuits in people with OCD, depression, and movement disorders to improve how DBS therapies work.
-
How a spouse's mental health and substance use may affect a partner's drinking problems
A study looks at how a spouse’s psychiatric disorders and drinking habits influence when a person starts, stops, or relapses into alcohol use problems within marriage.
-
Mapping brain microstructure in psychiatric disorders with normal ranges
A study will build a brain-mapping reference to understand how an individual’s brain differs within the normal range, with a focus on youths and how age and sex affect brain microstructure.
-
Foundation Models for Brain Imaging in Psychiatry
A large AI model will be trained on many brain scans and related data to help researchers understand ADHD, autism, and bipolar disorder.
-
How early pollution and stress change brain circuits for motivation and memory
This work looks at how early-life exposure to pollution and stress can alter brain circuits that control motivation and working memory for people with ADHD, depression, or similar conditions.
-
Basal forebrain and brain networks in psychiatric disorders
This grant aims to understand how a brain region called the basal forebrain helps regulate thinking and attention in people with severe mental illness, with the goal of guiding new treatments.
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.