Sialyltransferase in the bipolar and schizophrenic brain: examining the role of a novel generalised susceptibility gene

双相情感障碍和精神分裂症是影响80多万澳大利亚人的两种主要精神疾病。我们已经确定了一种新的基因，它会增加患双相情感障碍和精神分裂症的风险。我们将研究这种基因在正常大脑发育中的功能，以及这种功能在双相情感障碍和精神分裂症患者中是如何被破坏的。了解其生物学原因将有助于我们为这些严重的精神疾病找到更好的治疗方法。

Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are two major psychiatric conditions affecting over 800,000 Australians. We have identified a new gene which contributes to increased risk to developing both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. We will investigate the function of this gene in normal brain development, and how this function is disrupted in individuals with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Understanding the biological cause will help us define better treatments for these severe mental illnesses.