Unraveling Genetic Origins of Neurodevelopmental & Psychiatric Disorders: An Ambitious Consortium Initiative

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has initiated SSPsyGene, a consortium of top U.S. researchers focusing on 250 high-risk genes for neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases (NPD). This initiative aims to uncover genetic contributions to NPD and improve treatments through large-scale stem cell mutation studies.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has launched an ambitious project called SSPsyGene, aiming to uncover genetic links to neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases (NPD) such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, and depression.

David Panchision, Chief of the Developmental and Genomic Neuroscience Research Branch at NIMH, highlights the insufficiency of knowledge about these genes, noting that existing studies often rely on cancer cell lines rather than brain cells.

In 2023, the NIMH spearheaded a consortium involving leading U.S. researchers to focus on 250 high-risk genes. Contributors like Jubao Duan and Zhiping Pang have developed methods for mutating these genes in human stem cells. Initial tests on 23 genes have shown promise, with future efforts set to expand this research, hoping to yield a valuable resource for the neuroscience and psychiatric research community.

(With inputs from agencies.)