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"Schizophrenia Genes, Pathways in Brain Identified With Transcriptome Imputation Approach"

  • Genome Web
  • New York, NY
  • (March 26, 2019)

Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified hundreds of new associations and tracked the expression of schizophrenia-related genes in distinct human brain regions over the human lifespan. "Our new predictor models gave us unprecedented power to study predicted gene expression in schizophrenia, and to identify new risk genes associated with the disease. It was fascinating to see schizophrenia risk genes expressed throughout development, including in early pregnancy,” said Laura Huckins, PhD, assistant professor of genetics and genomic sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The study, published in Nature Genetics pointed to 413 gene-schizophrenia associations in 13 human brain regions, involving 256 genes — and some three-dozen pathways — in 13 brain regions. Dr. Huckins explained, “By laying the groundwork for combining transcriptomic imputation and genome-wide association study findings, our hope is to not only elucidate gene development as it relates to schizophrenia, but also shape the future of research methods and design.”

— Laura Huckins, PhD, Assistant Professor, Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

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