The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium: Advancing Discovery and Impact

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder that affects approximately 1 in 100 people worldwide. It is characterised by a range of symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking, and cognitive difficulties. The condition is often long-term and can have significant impacts on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Substantial evidence indicates that schizophrenia has a strong genetic basis, with heritability estimated between 60% and 80%. However, the full range of genetic factors contributing to risk remains incompletely understood.

The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium – Schizophrenia Working Group (PGC-SCZ) aims to elucidate the genetic architecture of schizophrenia through large-scale GWAS meta-analyses. This international collaboration brings together researchers from across the globe to integrate genetic and phenotypic data from diverse cohorts, with the goal of identifying common and rare variants that contribute to schizophrenia risk.

This project will conduct a large GWAS meta-analysis across diverse populations to improve genetic discovery for schizophrenia. It will integrate both common and rare genetic variants, develop new tools to study psychiatric traits beyond standard diagnoses, and use advanced methods to identify biological mechanisms and modifiable risk factors. The ultimate goal is to translate genetic findings into better prediction, prevention, and treatment strategies.