Unit of Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics

About the Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit (PNGU)

This research unit is located in the Richard Simches Research Center of the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. We are affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Our research studies are carried out in partnership with clinicians at Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Recently, PNGU joined the Center for Human Genetic Research (CHGR). The PNGU is directed by behavioral geneticist, Dr. David Pauls. Dr. Pauls’ research over the last 25 years has focused on psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders including Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism and related disorders, specific reading disability (dyslexia) and bipolar affective disorder. PNGU research projects are supported by funds from sources such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD), the Wallace Foundation, The Tourette Syndrome Association, and the Dyslexia Foundation.

PNGU Mission

Our goals include to:

Find out what role genes play in the origin of psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and behavioral disorders, such as Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Autistic Disorder
Examine the influence of non-genetic and/or environmental factors in the appearance of these disorders
Look at factors that may protect an individual from or may put an individual at greater risk for developing these disorders
Develop new ways of collecting and looking at information on these disorders in order to gain a more complete understanding of them

Why is Genetics Research Important?

In addition to gaining more information about psychiatric disorders, we are interested in understanding how genes are passed on from generation to generation. We are also very interested in finding susceptibility genes. These are genes that may make an individual more likely to develop a disorder. We invite entire families, that is, both parents and children, to take part in our studies. We ask each family member for either a blood sample or a cheek swab sample. From these samples, we can look at each person’s DNA. Genes are contained in DNA and are passed down from parents to children. Researchers can use this information to find out which genes are related to certain disorders. Once located, we may begin to understand how the specific genes work, why a particular disorder occurs, and how the disorder is passed down in families. Such knowledge is very important in the development of treatment and prevention strategies.

A Thank You

We look forward to the research and discoveries ahead. We plan to build on the knowledge we have gained up to this point. We hope that our continued research will increase our understanding of these disorders.

We are especially grateful to all the research families who have taken part in our studies. Everything we have learned so far and everything we will learn in the future is made possible by their generous participation.