Overview:
The goal of my group is to improve the understanding of (neurodevelop)mental disorders and neurogenetic mechanisms shaping human behavior, cognition, and development.
As ‘models’, we use rare genetic variants, in particular sex aneuploidies, individuals with an atypical number of sex chromosomes, and copy number variants (CNVs), i.e. regions of the genome either deleted or duplicated. These individuals are at elevated risk for a wide range of medical and behavioral consequences including brain disorders and some display large macroscopic effects on brain structure. The exact same CNV may confer elevated risk for several different (brain) disorders while reciprocal CNVs (at each end of the dosage response) may be associated with the same disorder. This suggests that brain disorders are highly interlinked. Consequently, through CNV studies, we may disentangle the mechanisms behind interrelated disorders and their influence on disease (both mental and somatic) outcome.
Methods and collaborators:
Collaborative efforts are essential due to the low frequency of sex aneuplodies and CNVs (1 in ~ 400 down to 1 in ~ 50,000 or less). We take advantage of global collaborations and novel Norwegian initiatives (such as the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child pregnancy study (MoBa). Internationally, the group coordinates the ENIGMA-CNV working group (https://enigma.ini.usc.edu/ongoing/enigma-cnv/), a part of the Enhancing Imaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis consortium, and, nationally to, we have tight links to the research environments, Centre of Precision Psychiatry and the K.G. Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (www.med.uio.no/klinmed/english/research/centres/kgj-neurodevelopmental-disorders/)). Through the latter, we partake in the recruitment of clinically identified carriers of rare genetic variants to study all scales of the spectrum.
We enjoy fervent, far-out discussions, a good laugh and to work in a collaborative, supportive spirit. Thus, we welcome enthusiastic, fun additions to the group including fruitful collaborations and motivated master students.
For students, we offer highly cross-disciplinary projects on carriers of CNVs and sex aneuplodies within e.g. brain imaging, psychology and genetics. Please reach out!
Want to join our research?
Looking to join neurodevelopmental or rare genetic variants (e.g. 1q21.1, 22q11.2, 16p11.2, 15q11.2-BP-BP2, Klinefelter, Turner, 47,XYY, 47,XXX etc) Norwegian research as next of kin or as affected yourself or as a control?
Please look here for inclusion in to the BUPGEN/K.G. Jebsen study:
https://www.med.uio.no/klinmed/english/research/centres/kgj-neurodevelopmental-disorders/how-to-get-involved-in-our-research/
Details on current projects:
TRICXY-MINDS - Clinical insight into sex TRIsomies for enhanced psychiatric Care in individuals with X and Y chromosomal aneuploidies
1 in 400 is born with an atypical number of sex chromosomes (sex chromosome aneuplodies (SCAs)) – only ~25 % are genetically detected. Many experience behavioral and cognitive challenges, reflected in odds ratio for several mental disorders of >2. This indicates a substantial subgroup in the psychiatric services (1-2 in 200 patients) that may have specific characteristics with potential for precision medicine. The lack of data and huge heterogeneity has hindered the development of tailored guidelines for care and specific interventions. TRICXY_MINDS will map disease & longitudinal health trajectories in Norwegian SCA carriers representing an estimated 3-4% of Norway's SCA population. Also, we are conducting a digital pilot of social management training (SMT) for persons with Klinefelter. The SMT is designed to target improvement of cognitive functions to enhance mental health.
22q11.2 register project - Register-studie på fødsels-karakteristika og diagnose-forløp for personer genetisk diagnostisert med en 22q11.2 kopitalsvariant
[et samarbeide mellom Oslo Universitetssykehus, Sykehuset Telemark HF, Haukeland universitetssykehus og Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge HF, Nasjonalt senter for sjeldne diagnoser, enhet Frambu og enhet hjernesykdommer samt Seksjon for barn immunologi, avdeling for barnemedisin og transplantasjon, OUS]
Bærere av kopitalls-varianten 22q11.2 har høy risiko for både psykisk og somatisk sykdom. Heterogeniteten i denne gruppen er stor – noen personer fungerer tilnærmet normalt uten de store utfordringer, mens andre opplever alvorlige og sammensatte sykdomsforløp.
I et samarbeide mellom fire sykehus i Norge, som genetisk diagnostiserer 22q11, skal vi kartlegge fødsels- og sykdomsforløp hos 22q11.2. Det gjør vi ved å koble personer identifisert som bærere av 22q11.2 ved sykehusene til register-data fra medisinsk fødselsregister, norsk pasient register og kommunalt pasient- og bruker-register. Målet er at oppnå objektive estimater for helseforhold av betydning inkl. sykdomsforløp hos alle med 22q11.2 i et håp om på sikt å forbedre oppfølgning av denne pasientgruppe.
Mer info om 22q11-delesjonen og duplikasjonen:
https://frambu.no/diagnose/22q11-2-delesjonssyndrom/; https://frambu.no/diagnose/22q11-2-duplikasjonssyndrom/
Prosjektet har mottat midler fra Nasjonalt senter for Sjeldne Diagnoser.
CNVs - Mechanisms in population level brain imaging genetics for clinical subtyping in neurodevelopmental disorders
- ENIGMA-CNV – Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis
- Disease and genetic architecture in large population datasets
- Disease and symptomatic mapping in clinical carriers of CNVs
We are mapping a) brain structure and function of CNV carriers to improve our understanding of CNV-caused syndromes b) health trajectories of CNV carriers in large population datasets Moba and c) health trajectories of clinical carriers of CNVs.
The OUS-homepage of the group is here: https://ous-research.no/home/sonderby/home/22600
Foto: Kirsten Sjøwall