Project Summary

Akira Sawa, M.D., Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2004) of Johns Hopkins University, has strong evidence that a mutation in the gene, Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia, or DISC1 may account for, at least in part, the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Results from Dr. Sawa’s laboratory, which has pioneered the study of DISC1 as a regulator of cortical development, has shown that over-expression of mutant DISC1 interferes with neurite outgrowth in neuronal PC 12 cells, a finding which may reflect its roles in developmental defects of schizophrenia. In the proposed study, Dr. Sawa aims to engineer transgenic mice expressing mutant DISC1 and wild-type DISC1, hoping these mice will be the first good genetic animal model of schizophrenia. Dr. Sawa predicts that once these mice are successfully produced, they will be important tools for studying schizophrenia pathogenesis and for evaluating new therapeutics.

Program Area: SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS\Schizophrenia

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