Grant: Project Grant

Schizophrenia is a serious and disabling illness that affects about 1 in 100 people. The causes are mostly unknown for this brain disease that often affects youths, seemingly at random in a family. Recent studies have however identified relevant genetic changes in some cases. By applying the latest technologies, we aim to identify previously undiscovered genetic changes. Because the schizophrenia illness itself appears the same, regardless of the high-impact genetic changes identified, insights gained can help us learn about schizophrenia more generally. Using a highly detailed method called whole genome sequencing, our group has recently found that in some individuals with schizophrenia there are genetic changes called tandem repeat expansions known to cause neurological diseases. Also, we have discovered new types of tandem repeat expansions that increase risk of autism. We will now apply advanced genetic methods to a Canadian community-based sample of 640 individuals with schizophrenia where we already have DNA available for study. We will identify these special genetic changes, determine where they are in the human genome, and whether and to what degree they expand within families, as they do in other diseases. We will assess genetic changes with respect to important clinical features relevant to schizophrenia. Discovering new types of genetic changes involved in causing schizophrenia is important for learning about the biological pathways that lead to illness expression - as it has been for other illnesses like cancer and heart disease, leading to new treatment possibilities and clinical diagnostic testing.