Our training program will focus on the genetics of schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar I disorder (BPrincipal Investigator). Our training will occur primarily in India and Egypt, which have a combined population of over 1.2 billion. SZ and BPrincipal Investigator are common and substantial sources of morbidity world-wide, yet their treatment is unsatisfactory. SZ and BPrincipal Investigator may share etiological factors and manifest co-morbidity with several prevalent chronic disorders, such as obesity and coronary artery disease. All these diseases have a proven genetic etiology, with complex inheritance. Successful gene mapping efforts will require large samples. Such samples are difficult to ascertain in developed countries and are largely restricted to Caucasians. Such recruitment is more feasible in developing countries. Indeed, novel etiological factors may be present. Parallel studies in developing and developed countries may also clarify the role of genetic factors against diverse environmental backgrounds. Such research has lagged in developing countries. We have established productive psychiatric genetic studies at four collaborating sites in India, Egypt and at the University of Pittsburgh (PITT). Training / research infrastructure building have also been initiated. This proposal adds two more sites. We will continue training linked to ongoing research, each activity complementing the other. There are two components: (1) The primary component is doctoral (PhD) training for six candidates who will exploit and extend our rich dataset. The training will occur primarily at the overseas institutions, with complementary training at PITT. PITT faculty will actively supervise the trainees and train local faculty as needed. (2) We will organize three specialty training workshops and public symposia at the overseas sites. We will thus provide infrastructure development, extend our gene mapping efforts and facilitate interactive learning and problem solving among the tri-national collaborators. The present proposal will lay the groundwork for a tradition of collegial training and research in two large countries where psychiatric disorders are common, but are stigmatized.

Public Health Relevance

Treatment and research for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder are important unmet needs in India and Egypt. We will continue training, infrastructure development and extend genetic epidemiological research already initiated by us. Thus we will enhance research in both psychiatry and genetics. The research will directly benefit the USA, by helping understand the pathogenesis of two common, severe, chronic, disabling disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
International Research Training Grants (D43)
Project #
5D43TW008302-05
Application #
8531367
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDA-L (50))
Program Officer
Michels, Kathleen M
Project Start
2009-08-08
Project End
2014-07-31
Budget Start
2013-08-01
Budget End
2014-07-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$103,591
Indirect Cost
$7,293
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Bhatia, Triptish; Wood, Joel; Iyengar, Satish et al. (2018) Emotion discrimination in humans: Its association with HSV-1 infection and its improvement with antiviral treatment. Schizophr Res 193:161-167
Nimgaonkar, V L; Prasad, K M; Chowdari, K V et al. (2017) The complement system: a gateway to gene-environment interactions in schizophrenia pathogenesis. Mol Psychiatry 22:1554-1561
Thomas, Pramod; He, Fanyin; Mazumdar, Sati et al. (2017) Joint analysis of cognitive and circadian variation in Schizophrenia and Bipolar I Disorder. Asian J Psychiatr :
Bhatia, Triptish; Mazumdar, Sati; Wood, Joel et al. (2017) A randomised controlled trial of adjunctive yoga and adjunctive physical exercise training for cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. Acta Neuropsychiatr 29:102-114
Mansour, Hader A; Wood, Joel; Chowdari, Kodavali V et al. (2017) Associations between period 3 gene polymorphisms and sleep- /chronotype-related variables in patients with late-life insomnia. Chronobiol Int 34:624-631
De, Sreeja; Bhatia, Triptish; Nimgaonkar, Vishwajit L et al. (2016) Pilot Translation of the Social Skills Improvement System Questionnaire Among Indian Children. Indian J Soc Psychiatry 32:167-170
John, Jibin; Bhatia, Triptish; Kukshal, Prachi et al. (2016) Association study of MiRSNPs with schizophrenia, tardive dyskinesia and cognition. Schizophr Res 174:29-34
Ibrahim, Ibtihal; Salah, Hala; El Sayed, Hanan et al. (2016) Hepatitis C virus antibody titers associated with cognitive dysfunction in an asymptomatic community-based sample. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 38:861-8
Sewilam, Ahmed M; Watson, Annie M M; Kassem, Ahmed M et al. (2015) Suggested avenues to reduce the stigma of mental illness in the Middle East. Int J Soc Psychiatry 61:111-20
Narayanan, Sreelatha S; Bhatia, Triptish; Velligan, Dawn I et al. (2015) A case control study of association between cognition and functional capacity in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 169:165-168

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