U.S.-Israeli Team Earns Grant to Research Genetics of Schizophrenia

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The American National Institute of Health has awarded a $2.1 million dollar grant to researchers at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in New York and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, for future research into the genetic origins and possible treatment of schizophrenia.

The grant, aka the G.O. grant (Grand Opportunity), is part of President Obama’s stimulus package to the advancement of scientific research. For this reason it shall be led by a U.S. team that will try to track the gene that is believed to be over-expressed in Jews of European decent.

It has long been known that schizophrenia – a complex brain disease marked by often-frightening hallucinations and delusions – tends to run in families and therefore has a genetic component to its cause. However, scientists have struggled to conclusively identify the genes that contribute to risk for this disease.

“Current evidence suggests that many genes are likely to be involved in schizophrenia, which theoretically should provide a large target for scientists,” said Dr. Lencz, who will head the Feinstein Institute’s team. “Unfortunately, these genes are individually either very rare or very weak in effect, making them very elusive to traditional forms of genetic analysis.”

More than 4,000 people will take part in the upcoming research, all of them with specific genetic backgrounds that will enable any genetic anomalies to stand out clearer.

“The unique demographic history of the Jewish Ashkenazi population results in a more homogeneous genetic background compared to the general population. This should allow disease-related genetic signals to stand out more clearly in our analysis,” said Prof. Darvasi of the Hebrew University. “Additionally, this study will utilize the most advanced genetic technologies, which will permit examination of many more pieces of the genetic code than prior generations of research.”

It is hoped that the results of this research will lead to more accurate prediction, treatment and prevention of serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

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