1. From genetics to biology: advancing mental health research in the Genomics ERA
- Author
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Susan E. Koester, Susan Borja, Linda S. Brady, Tara Dutka, Thomas Lehner, Kathleen R. Merikangas, Anjené M. Addington, P. Alexander Arguello, Miri Gitik, Geetha Senthil, David M. Panchision, Francis J. McMahon, and Douglas L. Meinecke
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Research program ,Guiding Principles ,Genomics ,Context (language use) ,Mental health ,03 medical and health sciences ,Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,030104 developmental biology ,0302 clinical medicine ,Engineering ethics ,Workgroup ,Set (psychology) ,Molecular Biology ,health care economics and organizations ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Psychiatric genetics - Abstract
The Genomics Workgroup of the National Advisory Mental Health Council (NAMHC) recently issued a set of recommendations for advancing the NIMH psychiatric genetics research program and prioritizing subsequent follow-up studies. The report emphasized the primacy of rigorous statistical support from properly designed, well-powered studies for pursuing genetic variants robustly associated with disease. Here we discuss the major points NIMH program staff consider when assessing research applications based on common and rare variants, as well as genetic syndromes, associated with psychiatric disorders. These are broad guiding principles for investigators to consider prior to submission of their applications. NIMH staff weigh these points in the context of reviewer comments, the existing literature, and current investments in related projects. Following the recommendations of the NAMHC, statistical strength and robustness of the underlying genetic discovery weighs heavily in our funding considerations as does the suitability of the proposed experimental approach. We specifically address our evaluation of applications motivated in whole, or in part, by an association between human DNA sequence variation and a disease or trait relevant to the mission of the NIMH.
- Published
- 2019