Even though schizophrenia is relatively widespread among the general population, investigators still have very little data on how the condition develops, or is triggered. In a new, 2-year study, experts in the United Kingdom will search for the genetic roots of the inherited form of the disease.
While some people appear to develop the disorder all on their own, especially in young adulthood, others appear to be born with it. This difference suggests that, indeed, some parents may be transmitting faulty genes to their children.
The purpose of the Medical Research Council (MRC)-funded research is to identify the exact gene that mutates in inherited schizophrenia. The investigation will be carried out by investigators at the
University of Leeds, who've just received a £400,000 ($613,122 or 480,000 euros) grant from the MRC.
In the past, another team of investigators at Leeds has suggested that existence of such a genetic mutation. It is now up to the team behind the new investigation to discover it. At the same time, scientists are fully aware that genes are not solely responsible for causing schizophrenia in patients.
The UL team includes biologist Dr. Steve Clapcote, genetics professor Chris Inglehearn and psychiatrist Dr. Alistair Cardno – both from the UL School of Medicine – and consultant psychiatrist Dr. Tariq Mahmood, who is based at the Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust.
“If we can confirm which specific genes and processes are at fault, we can start to develop new treatments to target them,” explains Dr. Clapcote, who was the lead researcher on the investigation.
“Our study is important because medicines currently used to treat schizophrenia aren't effective in about a third of patients and can also cause severe side effects,” he adds. Clapcote holds an appointment as a professor at the UL Faculty of Biological Sciences.
One of the things that will separate the new study from previous ones is the fact that it will primarily be focused on families suffering from schizophrenia. In the past, scientists investigating this condition preferred to analyze large groups of unrelated people.
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