The goal of this group is to find rare and common variants of human genes that confer risk for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Large-scale association studies are being carried out using DNA chips that can detect both single nucleotide variants and copy number variants. The program has collaborations aimed at collecting 10,000 cases of each illness and a comparable number of controls.

Go to genetics

The program is focused on cell-based screens in various neuronal and non-neuronal cells. The screens are aimed at defining a cell state that is thought to be related to a pathophysiological process involved in bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. High-throughput screens are being conducted that can potentially detect compounds that will confer a more desirable state. Follow-up studies to identify the target are being carried out and follow-up chemistry is being done. The goal is to identify new mechanisms that might lead to new treatments for these illnesses.

Go to chemical biology

As risk genes are defined, the functional consequences of the gene variant will be studied both in cultured cells and in rodent models of illness. Close ties to the MIT neuroscience community are facilitating this work.

Go to neurobiology