The mission of PNGU is to identify and characterize the genetic basis of psychiatric, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders and to translate these discoveries to improvements in clinical care and public health.
Psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders are common, costly, and often disabling conditions that affect individuals across the lifespan. Disability associated with neuropsychiatric disorders exceeds that of other medical illnesses, and psychiatric disorders are also associated with premature mortality. Familial and genetic factors are the best-substantiated risk factors for a broad range of neuropsychiatric disorders. Identifying and characterizing the genetic basis of these disorders offers hope for improving treatment and prevention strategies.
