Grant: Michael Smith Fellowship for Research in Schizophrenia

Neurons that respond to the neurotransmitter dopamine play a key role in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. These include schizophrenia, movement disorders, Parkinson's disease, as well as addiction. These neurons are the target of all antipsychotic drugs used to treat these diseases. Abnormal maturation or functioning of these neurons is thought to be the main cause of the above disorders. Yet, nothing is known about the factors that determine the maturation of these neurons. This creates a void in our knowledge, which needs to be addressed. We have identified a list of candidate factors, which are likely to guide the maturation and function of these neurons. By following their appearance at different points of brain maturation, we will identify which of these factors play a key role in this process and how they may function abnormally in disease. We hope to use this knowledge to identify new, more direct, treatments for these diseases. Using different techniques aimed at returning the function of these factors to normal, we may be able to develop treatment for at-risk individuals and perhaps even prevent the onset of the disease.