Background & Introduction of GEN-BLIP Study

We are expanding on our research on genetics of schizophrenia, soon we are going to start similar study on Bipolar Affective Disorder. This research study is about why some people become ill with certain illnesses and others do not. Doctors and scientists have learned that genes, or factors that you inherit from your parents and pass on to your offspring, may play a role.
We are interested in finding genetic factors that contribute to certain illnesses, including Bipolar. Bipolar is a chronic mental illness of unknown cause that affects approximately 1% of the population. Persons with BPD experience symptoms of extremely elevated mood and energy (mania), unusual thought patterns and sometimes psychosis.

Background & Introduction of GEN-BLIP Study

We are expanding on our research on genetics of schizophrenia, soon we are going to start similar study on Bipolar Affective Disorder. This research study is about why some people become ill with certain illnesses and others do not. Doctors and scientists have learned that genes, or factors that you inherit from your parents and pass on to your offspring, may play a role.
We are interested in finding genetic factors that contribute to certain illnesses, including Bipolar. Bipolar is a chronic mental illness of unknown cause that affects approximately 1% of the population. Persons with BPD experience symptoms of extremely elevated mood and energy (mania), unusual thought patterns and sometimes psychosis.

As part of this study, we are inviting individuals suffering from Bipolar to participate. Individuals who do not have any personal or family history of these disorders also are invited to participate. Further, the relatives of individuals with and without illness may be invited to participate, if they wish. In this research, we will study large groups of unrelated individuals with and without these disorders to identify any differences in their genes.
We may also compare the genes of affected and unaffected family members. We hope to find differences that may be associated with an increased risk of developing Bipolar and other mental and physical illness, conditions or traits or that affect disease course. In this study Nearly 20,000 individuals will be enrolled in the next several years. This large number of research volunteers in necessary in order to identify the exact genetic factors that may play a role in disease.