Identification Of Schizophrenia Susceptibility Genes: A Collaborative Project With The University Of Indonesia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$546,825.00
Summary
Schizophrenia is present in all populations at a similar incidence. The project aims to identify genetic risk factors in three genomic regions previously detected by us in a genome-scan for genetic linkage in 152 Indonesian families. Colleagues at the University of Indonesia will collect an additional sample of 2000 individuals for replication. This sample will be available for research in Australia. Knowledge of risk factors will aid in diagnosis, prevention, and development of novel therapies.
Children Of Parents With Mental Illness: A Population-based Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$774,715.00
Summary
Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression account for about 16% of the global burden of disease, according to estimates by the World Health Organization and the World Bank. These disorders tend to run a chronic or recurrent course, with devastating impact on sufferers and their families. We know today that part of their causes are genetic and may be transmitted to the next generation. However, another part of the causation is likely to be environmental, involving maternal pregnancy co ....Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression account for about 16% of the global burden of disease, according to estimates by the World Health Organization and the World Bank. These disorders tend to run a chronic or recurrent course, with devastating impact on sufferers and their families. We know today that part of their causes are genetic and may be transmitted to the next generation. However, another part of the causation is likely to be environmental, involving maternal pregnancy complications, as well as psychosocial adversity and stressful events impacting children who happen to carry a genetic susceptibility to such disorders. To disentangle and understand better such effects, our research is focusing on families where genetic risk to the offspring is present, due to a mother suffering from one of these disorders. By linking data available on population databases in WA, we aim to follow up the childhood development and young adult health outcomes of all children born to women with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or depression. Few studies of this kind have been done worldwide, and we expect that the WA study will answer many unresolved questions, leading to preventative and treatment interventions that would reduce adverse outcomes and improve the quality of life of families at risk.Read moreRead less