Project Summary

Peter P. Zandi, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.H.S. (Young Investigator 2004) of Johns Hopkins University, proposes to combine data from several family-based studies to generate one of the largest datasets for genetic investigations of bipolar disorder, which probably involves multiple genes in its pathophysiology. Dr. Zandi will analyze this dataset using novel statistical methods to elucidate the role of gene-gene interactions in bipolar disease and to identify clinical features of the disorder that may be markers of the underlying genetic heterogeneity. The goal is to facilitate the identification of bipolar disorder susceptibility genes and the pathways that contribute to the etiology of the disease. While many current approaches use genetic analysis based on single-gene methodologies, with certain genes contributing a minor amount to the disease, Dr. Zandi hypothesizes his method will overcome these limitations in identifying susceptibility genes.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Bipolar

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