Grant: Emerging Team Grant: Regenerative Medicine and Nanomedicine - LOI

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe, chronic mental health condition that in its various subtypes affects from 1-6% of the population: Death by suicide (10-15% of patients) and comorbid cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes contribute to high premature lifetime mortality. Chemical and biological abnormalities in the brain affecting neuron function and survival play an important role in the disease processes of BD. This proposal brings together researchers in the fields of developmental biology, psychiatry, analytical chemistry and bioengineering to combine stem cell and live cell analytical technologies and strategies to provide the critical tools for understanding the pathophysiology of BD and for the development of better treatments; these are the key factors that can ultimately minimize the high burden of illness of BD and the cost to society.