Discovery

Schizophrenia known as a mental disorder which have a strong genetic component. A Queen’s academic, part of an international team which has discovered a gene that increases the risk of developing schizophrenia found that the discovery of the gene, MEGF10, could be a step in the right direction towards helping those affected.

Dr O’Neill and his colleagues from the Department of Psychiatry at Queen’s said, the further finding helps piece together the complex picture underlying risk to schizophrenia and offers the hope of more successful interventions in the future. They are now trying to understand how difficulties with the developing brain can compromise important brain systems leading to the bewildering and distressful symptoms of schizophrenia.

Adapted from materials provided by Queen’s University, Belfast.