Schizophrenia (SZ) is characterized by high heritability (~80%) and elevated sibling recurrence ( s ~ 10), yet the identification of susceptibility genes has proven extremely challenging. This application entitled Next Generation Sequencing for Disease Mapping in a Founder Population aims to identify rare variants associated with illness by utilizing a unique cohort of Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (n~1000) and well-matched Ashkenazi controls (n~2000). These samples already have GWAS data (Illumina Omni1-Quad platform) generated as part of a previously-funded project (RC2 MH089964). In this proposal, we intend to utilize next-generation sequencing to obtain high-quality, high-depth (>50x) whole-genome data from 300 cases and 500 controls selected from this cohort for maximum genomic informativeness, based on a novel genomewide haplotype sharing approach applied to the GWAS data. Due to the limited number of founders in the Ashkenazi population, we will then be able to impute >80% of all genomic variation back into the full set of samples. By contrast, the same number of samples derived from outbred European or European-American populations would permit imputation of only 20-25% of the total population variability. This imputation, combined with additional planned genotyping in the full cohort, will greatly enhance power to detect significantly associated rare variants using both single-marker and collapsing statistical approaches. Replication and extension will then be performed in publicly available SZ cohorts (e.g., GAIN) containing both AJ and non-AJ cases and controls. All DNA has already been collected and is immediately ready for sequencing. Based on our preliminary GWAS data, as well as literature from other common, complex disorders such as breast cancer and Parkinson's disease, the AJ population is likely to be enriched for a subset rare susceptibility alleles. Such alleles may therefore have higher allele frequencies and odds ratios than those detectable in other populations, providing enhanced power to detect disease-relevant loci. Notably, this enrichment can occur even in the absence of detectably increased incidence of these disorders in the AJ population. In addition to providing informative data on the role of rare variants in the genetic architecture of this devastating and disabling disorder, sequencing of the control cohort will provide an invaluable resource for future studies of many complex disorders. Moreover, computational methods development relevant to the ascertainment and interpretation of next-generation sequencing data will also be made available for sharing with the broader genetics/genomics community.

Public Health Relevance

Schizophrenia (SZ) constitutes the fifth leading cause of disability in the US. Although strongly heritable, specific genetic risk factors remain unclear. We aim to use state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing technology in a large, ethnically homogeneous cohort of SZ cases and controls. Findings will create new opportunities for diagnosis and prediction of schizophrenia, and for understanding its biology.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH095458-03
Application #
8892256
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Addington, Anjene M
Project Start
2013-08-01
Project End
2016-04-30
Budget Start
2015-08-01
Budget End
2016-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Department
Type
DUNS #
110565913
City
Manhasset
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11030
Lencz, Todd; Yu, Jin; Palmer, Cameron et al. (2018) High-depth whole genome sequencing of an Ashkenazi Jewish reference panel: enhancing sensitivity, accuracy, and imputation. Hum Genet 137:343-355
Hui, Ken Y; Fernandez-Hernandez, Heriberto; Hu, Jianzhong et al. (2018) Functional variants in the LRRK2 gene confer shared effects on risk for Crohn's disease and Parkinson's disease. Sci Transl Med 10:
Palmer, Cameron; Pe'er, Itsik (2017) Statistical correction of the Winner's Curse explains replication variability in quantitative trait genome-wide association studies. PLoS Genet 13:e1006916
Xue, James; Lencz, Todd; Darvasi, Ariel et al. (2017) The time and place of European admixture in Ashkenazi Jewish history. PLoS Genet 13:e1006644
Baskovich, Brett; Hiraki, Susan; Upadhyay, Kinnari et al. (2016) Expanded genetic screening panel for the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Genet Med 18:522-8
Palmer, Cameron; Pe'er, Itsik (2016) Bias Characterization in Probabilistic Genotype Data and Improved Signal Detection with Multiple Imputation. PLoS Genet 12:e1006091
Lencz, T; Malhotra, A K (2015) Targeting the schizophrenia genome: a fast track strategy from GWAS to clinic. Mol Psychiatry 20:820-6
Kreimer, Anat; Pe'er, Itsik (2014) Co-regulated transcripts associated to cooperating eSNPs define Bi-fan motifs in human gene networks. PLoS Genet 10:e1004587
Carmi, Shai; Hui, Ken Y; Kochav, Ethan et al. (2014) Sequencing an Ashkenazi reference panel supports population-targeted personal genomics and illuminates Jewish and European origins. Nat Commun 5:4835
Mukherjee, Semanti; Guha, Saurav; Ikeda, Masashi et al. (2014) Excess of homozygosity in the major histocompatibility complex in schizophrenia. Hum Mol Genet 23:6088-95

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