Refining the genetic causes of schizophrenia

An international study involving UCL has made advances in understanding the ways in which genetic risk factors alter gene function in schizophrenia. The study, published today in Genome Biology and funded by the Medical Research Council , combined genetic sequence information with measures of gene regulation in schizophrenia patients and matched controls. Schizophrenia is an inherited, neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by episodes of psychosis and altered brain function. Despite previous research successfully identifying genetic variants associated with schizophrenia, scientists remain uncertain about which genes cause the condition and how their function is regulated. The study, which used blood samples from 1,714 individuals, is the largest of its kind. It has helped to clarify which specific genes are actually affected by the genetic variants associated with schizophrenia, and provides a blueprint for researchers to undertake similar analyses for other complex diseases. The team included collaborators from King's College London, University College London and the University of Aberdeen, as well as colleagues in Finland, China, Germany and the Netherlands.