Grant: CIHR Clinician Scientist - Phase 1

Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness affecting nearly 1% of all Canadians. Although schizophrenia is primarily a genetic disorder, it has been hard to discover genes that may be related to this illness. To help overcome this difficulty, we are using an alternative strategy called imaging-genetics, where we examine the relationship of genes with brain structure and function, to better understand disrupted mental functions (i.e. cognitive deficits) in schizophrenia. This approach may tell us more about how schizophrenia vulnerability genes act in the brain ultimately leading to impaired mental function. Furthermore, this approach may help us understand how risk genes predict disrupted relationships between the brain and mental (cognitive) functions that are impaired in this disorder. The brain imaging technique that we are focusing on is an MRI technique called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) that allows us to examine the connections between brain regions, known as white matter tracts. Disruption of these brain connections in schizophrenia may lead to impairment of certain mental functions that are impaired in schizophrenia, thus making it difficult for many schizophrenia patients to work and function in daily life. Using a combined genetics and brain imaging approach, we hope to discover the genes related to impaired brain circuitry and mental functions in schizophrenia, and an improved understanding of, and better treatment for cognitive deficits in this debilitating disorder.