Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Intellectual disability (ID) is a common brain disorder, affecting about 300 of every 10 000 people in the population. Individuals with ID often have difficulties in school and need extra help with activities required for day-to-day living, such as cooking and cleaning. Approximately 5% of individuals with ID develop a second brain disorder called schizophrenia (SZ) later in life. Individuals with SZ often hear or see things that aren't really there and become increasingly socially isolated. Adults with both brain disorders (SZ-ID) are often referred to as being "dual diagnosed" and face extra challenges compared to adults with only one condition. There is growing evidence to suggest that rare genetic changes are associated with both SZ and ID, however there is little known about the genetics of SZ-ID. The purpose of this study is to discover new genetic changes that may be associated with SZ-ID. The results of this study may help identify new causes of SZ-ID and lead to the development of new and improved treatments for the understudied population with SZ-ID.