Psychiatric Genomics Consortium

The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) has been at the forefront of global psychiatric genetics for nearly two decades, transforming our understanding of the genomic underpinnings of psychiatric disorders. Building on its success with over 1,700 investigators from 66 countries and 735 impactful publications, the PGC proposes a new phase to harness the forthcoming influx of genetic data from diverse global populations. This effort aims to deepen understanding of the genetic architecture of psychiatric disorders, address critical gaps in biological mechanisms, and catalyze clinical translation.

The project has five synergistic Specific Aims: (1) Identify genetic variants associated with serious psychiatric disorders in global populations by integrating diverse datasets and applying state-of-the-art methodologies to analyze common, rare, and structural variants. (2) Dissect heterogeneity to identify trans-diagnostic features of psychiatric and medical disorders, elucidating genetic commonalities and differences across disorders and to define resilience and risk. (3) Advance mechanistic understanding of psychiatric risk and resilience by fine-mapping genetic loci, identifying relevant biological contexts, and integrating functional genomic annotations. (4) Bridge genetic discovery and clinical translation with a focus on polygenic contributions to psychopathology, multimodal frameworks for treatment selection, and predictors of risk and resilience trajectories. (5) Amplify PGC impact through outreach and training, fostering partnerships with advocacy groups, expanding science communication, and training the next generation of psychiatric geneticists.