BIMO Class of 1960 Scholar Colloquium with Dr. Tannishtha Reya '91

Talk abstract:  In the past two decades, notable technological and methodological advances in human genetics has enabled the analysis of the genetic code of many tens of thousands of individuals, and for first time, a comprehensive look into the genetic factors underlying human traits and diseases. This has been particularly revealing in the study of mental illnesses, where our understanding of the genetic and environmental causes are still limited. Here, I will discuss the emergence of next-generation sequencing as a tool in identifying large-effect protein-coding variants that are associated with higher risk of mental illnesses, with a focus on schizophrenia. I will first review earlier results from the UK10K project, in which the analysis of over 5,000 case exomes revealed a schizophrenia risk gene and shared connections with broader neurodevelopmental disorders. I will then present preliminary results from the Schizophrenia Exome Sequencing Meta-analysis Consortium, a global collaborative effort to further accelerate genetic discoveries in schizophrenia through the analysis of over 75,000 individuals. These analyses are identifying genes and biological processes that underlie mental illnesses, and provide one avenue in acquiring clues on possible drug targets that may lead to more effective treatments.

More Information