The BD2 Genetics Platform is a large-scale research effort comprising genetic sequencing of a highly diverse sample group: 30,000 individuals from Africa, Central America, South America and Asia diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Like depression, there is a lack of scientific understanding of which genes contribute to bipolar disorder and how these genes are inherited. Researchers also lack sufficient available genetic data with which to study bipolar disorder. The aim of the project is to expand the genetic data available to researchers and further understanding of the genetic basis of bipolar disorder, which is thought to be highly heritable from parent to child.
UCLA Depression Grand Challenge Director Nelson Freimer, MD, is a lead collaborator on the project, contributing his expertise in serious mental illness and their genetics. The research effort is one of two projects funded through a $15 million grant from BD2: the Genetics Platform and, separately, the Brain Omics Platform.
This research effort aims to further understanding of the genetic foundations of bipolar disorder, especially in relation to bipolar disorder’s heritability and contributing genetic variants.
2023-
Leveraging genetic data of 30,000 individuals
Nelson Freimer, MD
Benjamin Neale, PhD (The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard)
Tarjinder Singh, MD (New York Genome Center)
The research project is being carried out through The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, in collaboration with UCLA and the New York Genome Center. Project leaders are Freimer, Benjamin Neale, PhD, of The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and Tarjinder Singh, MD, of the New York Genome Center.
BD2 is funding the creation of the Genetics Platform and the separate Brain Omics platform through a $15 million grant awarded in March 2023.
