Tri National Training Program in Psychiatric Genetics

描述（由申请人提供）：我们的培训计划将集中在精神分裂症（SZ）和双相I型障碍的遗传学（B主要研究者）。我们的培训将主要在印度和埃及进行，这两个国家的总人口超过12亿。SZ和B主要研究者是世界范围内常见和重要的发病来源，但他们的治疗不令人满意。SZ和B主要研究者可能具有相同的病因，并与几种常见慢性疾病（如肥胖和冠状动脉疾病）共病。所有这些疾病都有已证实的遗传病因，具有复杂的遗传性。成功的基因定位工作需要大量的样本。这些样本在发达国家很难确定，而且主要限于高加索人。这种征聘在发展中国家比较可行。事实上，可能存在新的病因因素。在发展中国家和发达国家进行的平行研究也可能阐明遗传因素在不同环境背景下的作用。在发展中国家，这类研究已经落后。我们已经在印度、埃及和匹兹堡大学（PITT）的四个合作地点建立了富有成效的精神病学遗传研究。培训/研究基础设施建设也已启动。该提案增加了两个站点。我们将继续与正在进行的研究相联系的培训，每项活动都是相互补充的。有两个组成部分：（1）主要组成部分是对六名候选人进行博士（PhD）培训，他们将利用和扩展我们丰富的数据集。培训将主要在海外机构进行，并在PITT进行补充培训。PITT教师将积极监督学员，并根据需要培训当地教师。(2)我们将在海外工厂组织三次专业培训讲习班和公开研讨会。因此，我们将提供基础设施发展，扩大我们的基因图谱工作，并促进三国合作者之间的互动学习和解决问题。目前的建议将为在两个精神疾病很常见但却被污名化的大国建立学院培训和研究的传统奠定基础。公共卫生相关性：精神分裂症和双相I型障碍的治疗和研究是印度和埃及未满足的重要需求。我们将继续培训、发展基础设施，并扩大我们已经开始的遗传流行病学研究。因此，我们将加强精神病学和遗传学的研究。这项研究将直接使美国受益，帮助了解两种常见的、严重的、慢性的、致残性疾病的发病机制。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our training program will focus on the genetics of schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar I disorder (BPrincipal Investigator). Our training will occur primarily in India and Egypt, which have a combined population of over 1.2 billion. SZ and BPrincipal Investigator are common and substantial sources of morbidity world-wide, yet their treatment is unsatisfactory. SZ and BPrincipal Investigator may share etiological factors and manifest co-morbidity with several prevalent chronic disorders, such as obesity and coronary artery disease. All these diseases have a proven genetic etiology, with complex inheritance. Successful gene mapping efforts will require large samples. Such samples are difficult to ascertain in developed countries and are largely restricted to Caucasians. Such recruitment is more feasible in developing countries. Indeed, novel etiological factors may be present. Parallel studies in developing and developed countries may also clarify the role of genetic factors against diverse environmental backgrounds. Such research has lagged in developing countries. We have established productive psychiatric genetic studies at four collaborating sites in India, Egypt and at the University of Pittsburgh (PITT). Training / research infrastructure building have also been initiated. This proposal adds two more sites. We will continue training linked to ongoing research, each activity complementing the other. There are two components: (1) The primary component is doctoral (PhD) training for six candidates who will exploit and extend our rich dataset. The training will occur primarily at the overseas institutions, with complementary training at PITT. PITT faculty will actively supervise the trainees and train local faculty as needed. (2) We will organize three specialty training workshops and public symposia at the overseas sites. We will thus provide infrastructure development, extend our gene mapping efforts and facilitate interactive learning and problem solving among the tri-national collaborators. The present proposal will lay the groundwork for a tradition of collegial training and research in two large countries where psychiatric disorders are common, but are stigmatized. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Treatment and research for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder are important unmet needs in India and Egypt. We will continue training, infrastructure development and extend genetic epidemiological research already initiated by us. Thus we will enhance research in both psychiatry and genetics. The research will directly benefit the USA, by helping understand the pathogenesis of two common, severe, chronic, disabling disorders.