Genes involved in neuropsychiatric disorder

This invention is from the Pritzker Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research Consortium, a collaborative research enterprise comprised of several leading academic institutions and based on a long-term relationship between the Pritzker family and scientists at the various institutions. Groups at UC Davis, UC Irvine, Stanford University, University of Michigan and Cornell conduct studies on human post-mortem tissue, isolated populations and various animal models to identify altered profiles of gene expression in brain circuits associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.

While it has been hypothesized that mental illness, including mood disorders such as major depression and bipolar disorder as well as psychotic disorders such as psychosis and schizophrenia, may have genetic roots, little progress has been made in identifying gene sequences and gene products that play a role in causing these disorders, as is true for many diseases with a complex genetic origin. Relying on the discovery that certain genes expressed in particular brain pathways and regions are likely involved in the development of mental illness, the present invention provides methods for diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, as well as methods for identifying compounds effective in treating mental illness. The TBR1 gene in particular is claimed in the patent application.