Understanding Schizophrenia in Order to Treat It According to the Patient’s Genetic Profile

Context

Schizophrenia is a serious chronic psychiatric disease that affects neurodevelopmental processes. It occurs in 1 to 2% of the population and causes significant psychological suffering as well as substantial costs to society. The origin of this disease could lie in the prefrontal development of the cerebral cortex when it is disrupted by genes that interfere with the mechanisms of cellular development. This is the hypothesis put forward by these researchers, who together will attempt to define the genetic fingerprint of schizophrenia.

Project

The project is run by two researchers, an expert in schizophrenia and an expert in cell function analysis. It consists of studying the cerebral cortex at the cellular level, examining transcription mechanisms in patients with schizophrenia and in healthy subjects, making comparisons with genetic functions, and establishing a genetic fingerprint for schizophrenia.

Project manager

Professor Alexandre Gratien Dayer, Deputy Head Physician and Clinical Professor, Psychiatric Specialties Division, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals

Dr. Denis Jabaudon-Gandet, University Hospital Physician, Neurology Division, Clinical Neuroscience Department, Geneva University Hospitals