EU-GEI project (European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks studying Gene-Environment Interactions)

EU-GEI www.eu-gei.eu European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene-Environment Interactions UniBo Team Leader: Dott.ssa Ilaria Tarricone, Istituto di Psichiatria «Paolo Ottonello» http://www.unibo.it/Portale/Ricerca/Servizi+Docenti+Ricercatori/finanzeuropei/EU-GEI.htm The aim of EU-GEI is to identify the interactive genetic, clinical and environmental determinants involved in the development, severity and outcome of schizophrenia (EU-GEI, Schiz. Res. 2008; 102: 21-6). In order to identify these interactive determinants, EU-GEI will employ family-based, multidisciplinary research paradigms, which allow for the efficient assessment of gene-environment interactions. In order to go beyond old findings from historical convenience cohorts with crude measures of environmental factors and clinical outcomes, the focus in EU-GEI will be on recruitment of new, family-based clinical samples with state-of-the-art assessments of environmental, clinical and genetic determinants as well as their underlying neural and behavioural mechanisms. New statistical tools will be developed to combine the latest multilevel epidemiological with the latest genome-wide genetic approaches to analysis. Translation of results to clinical practice will be facilitated by additional experimental research and risk assessment bioinformatics approaches. This will result in the identification of modifiable biological and cognitive mechanisms underlying gene-environment interactions and the construction of Risk Assessment Charts and Momentary Assessment Technology tools which can be used for (i) early prediction of transition to psychotic disorder in help-seeking individuals with an at-risk mental state and (ii) early prediction of course and outcome after illness onset. In order to reach these goals, EU-GEI has assembled a multidisciplinary team of top schizophrenia researchers who have the range of skills required to deliver a program of research that meets all the call s requirements and who have access to / will collect a number of unique European samples. The partners in EU-GEI represent the nationally funded schizophrenia / mental health networks of the UK, Netherlands, France, Spain, Turkey and Germany as well as other partners. Coordinator: UNIVERSITEIT MAASTRICHT (The Netherlands) Other participants: ALMA MATER STUDIORUM-UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA - Istituto di Psichiatria «Paolo Ottonello» - Resp. Scientifico : Dott.ssa Ilaria Tarricone MEDIAMENS B.V. (The Netherlands) OMEGA PRO PROJE ARASTIRMA GELISTIRME VE DANISMANLIK LTD (Turkey) WINGZ BV (The Netherlands) KLINIKUM DER UNIVERSITAET ZU KOELN (Germany) E.C.S. INTERNATIONAL BV (The Netherlands) UNIVERSITAET BASEL (Switzerland) ANKARA UNIVERSITESI (Turkey) SERMES PLANIFICACION (Spain) UNIVERSITY MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE (Greece) KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (UK) UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO (Spain) UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PALERMO (Italy) THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (UK) THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG (Hong Kong) ACADEMISCH MEDISCH CENTRUM BIJ DE UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM (The Netherlands) SERVICIO MADRILEÑO DE SALUD (Spain) LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN (Germany) ZENTRALINSTITUT FUER SEELISCHE GESUNDHEIT (Germany) ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN IRELAND (Eire) KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN (Belgium) CARDIFF UNIVERSITY (UK) UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE (Australia) MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN (Austria) INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE - INSERM (France