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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC)

@pgcgenetics.bsky.social
664 followers 213 following 655 posts

With 1700+ international scientists & 900,000 participants, the PGC is the largest biological investigation in the history of psychiatry 🧬

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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
On September 10, we mark #WorldSuicidePreventionDay. It's time to remember those affected by suicide, to raise awareness, and to focus efforts on directing treatment to those who need it most.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
These larger and more comprehensive genetic studies are necessary for disentangling the underlying architecture of these disorders, with the hope of improving outcomes and lives.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
The second iteration of the Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative 2 (EDGI2) study is actively recruiting in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. See EDGI2-US (edgi2.org), EDGI2-AUS (edgi2.org.au), EDGI-UK (edgiuk.org).
edgi2.org
EDGI2 – Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative 2
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Genetic studies that include larger and more global samples, and other eating disorder diagnoses, such as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), atypical anorexia nervosa (AAN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED), are currently underway.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
These findings highlight shared and distinct genetic underpinnings for binge eating behaviors from anorexia nervosa, highlighting important biological differences in these eating disorders that may inform different strategies for clinical treatment.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
To capture the influence of both psychiatric and metabolic/body measurement genetics, the researchers encouraged that eating disorders should be thought of as metabo-psychiatric conditions.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
In contrast, genetic factors that increase your risk of developing anorexia nervosa decrease your chance of developing high BMI and larger body measurements.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Many BE traits positively correlated with higher anthropometric measures, and AN negatively correlated. This means that some of the same genetic factors that increase your chance of higher weight also increases your risk of developing binge eating.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Many of the psychiatric genetic associations were shared between BE and AN, such as strong genetic overlap with depression and anxiety. However, the associations with body measurement traits such as BMI, fat mass, and body fat percentage were in opposite directions.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
The association of binge eating with the FTO locus remains even after removing BMI genetics, implicating a BMI-independent association of binge eating with this locus. Likewise, numerous AN loci demonstrated independence from BMI as well.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
To model BMI-independent genetic architecture, the researchers ran a GWAS-by-subtraction using a specified structural equation model (via genomicSEM) for binge eating and AN, subtracting the shared BMI component for each.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
A case-case GWAS (CC-GWAS) was also run to investigate genetic differences between binge eating and anorexia. Regions highlighted in red in the Manhattan plot indicate genome-wide significant SNPs from the CC-GWAS.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Some of the binge-eating loci have previously been linked to body size traits, including one near the well-known FTO gene, which has strong ties to higher body weight. These new results suggest that binge eating may help explain part of the connection between FTO and higher BMI.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
The researchers identified six areas in the genome (loci) associated with binge eating and eight loci associated with anorexia nervosa, two of which were novel and six which were replicated from Watson et al. (2019).
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Led by researchers from King’s College London, University of North Carolina, and Yale University, genome-wide association studies of ~39,000 participants with binge eating behavior and ~24,000 with anorexia nervosa were conducted.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Binge eating is a transdiagnostic eating disorder symptom, occurring in binge-eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN), and in some cases of anorexia nervosa. It is marked by eating a large amount of food coupled with a feeling of loss of control.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
✨Publication alert!✨The Eating Disorders Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC-ED) has, for the first time, identified genetic factors associated with binge eating and compared them to the genetic factors linked to anorexia nervosa. doi.org/10.1038/s442...
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
📄 Now published in Nature Human Behaviour, read the paper here👇 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Genome-wide meta-analysis of quantitatively measured generalized anxiety symptoms in individuals of European ancestry - Nature Human Behaviour
Analysing generalized anxiety symptoms as a quantitative trait rather than a clinical diagnosis, Skelton, Mitchell and colleagues report a genome-wide meta-analysis of 693,869 individuals identifying ...
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
🙏 @pgcgenetics.bsky.social collaborators: @markjamesadams.bsky.social @pzg.bsky.social @papiolsergi.bsky.social @profarmour.bsky.social @ian-hickie.bsky.social @michelleklupton.bsky.social @klehto.bsky.social @mcintosh2001.bsky.social @genomics4psychosis.bsky.social & many more!
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
🙏 Huge thanks to all participants & collaborators across our 14 cohorts, incl. @gladstudy.bsky.social, @ukbiobank.ac.uk, @estbiobank.bsky.social, @genscot.bsky.social
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
👏This collaborative study was led by researchers at @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social & @qimrb.bsky.social: @megsk.bsky.social Brittany Mitchell @thaliaeley.bsky.social @jonicoleman.bsky.social @psychgenomics.bsky.social & analysts @rujiawang.bsky.social @abiterkuile.bsky.social @al-murphy.bsky.social
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
📈This research comes as anxiety rates are rising, especially in young people. Understanding the genetic architecture of anxiety alongside psychological and social factors is crucial for developing better prevention and treatment strategies.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
🧠Gene-based analyses highlighted specific genes, including PCLO and SORCS3, which are expressed in the brain and involved in neural communication. Pathway enrichment showed significant signal in synaptic processes.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
🔗We found genetic correlations with 64/105 traits, incl. depression & anxiety disorders (rg=0.71-0.85), OCD (0.58), IBS (0.57), migraine (0.27) & endometriosis (0.27). These may reflect shared genetic risk or anxiety linked to living with a condition, but don't imply causation.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
🌍We created polygenic scores (indices of genetic 'risk') & tested them in independent samples of European, African, & South Asian genetic ancestries. Significant associations with modest predictive power were observed across all ancestries (r2=1.2%-2.9%).
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
🧬Anxiety symptoms are influenced by many genetic variants (even more than we had power to identify here!). Common genetic variants explained ~6% of differences in symptom severity (SNP-based heritability). The rest? Other genetic & environmental factors, & their interplay.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
👥Our sample: 693,869 individuals of European genetic ancestry from 14 cohorts (Europe, Australia, US). Most participants completed the GAD-7, a self-report measure of anxiety symptoms used widely in clinical and research settings.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
📊Anxiety exists on a spectrum, from adaptive threat responses to clinically impairing symptoms. Anxiety disorders sit at the upper end, crossing a threshold of distress & impairment. But biology doesn't always respect the cut-off, & measuring the full range boosts power.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
🔬Most psychiatric genetic studies use a case-control design, comparing people with and without a diagnosis. We took a quantitative approach instead, measuring anxiety symptom severity on a continuous scale.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
📢 New publication in @nathumbehav.nature.com from the PGC Anxiety Working Group: the largest GWAS of generalised anxiety symptoms to date, analysing ~700k across 14 cohorts. We found 74 genome-wide significant loci, 39 novel for anxiety.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
6/ Together, these cohorts demonstrate Africa’s growing contribution to global psychiatric genomics and precision medicine. 📍 WCPG 2026, Glasgow. ispg.net/wcpg-2026/ 🌍 Expanding discovery 🧬 Improving transferability 🤝 Strengthening collaboration @ispg.bsky.social
ispg.net
WCPG 2026 | ISPG - International Society of Psychiatric Genetics
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
5/ The session will also explore: • culturally adapted phenotyping • ethical and infrastructure challenges • advanced genomic analyses • cross-ancestry discovery • polygenic prediction across diverse populations
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
4/ Featured initiatives include: 🧠 DepGenAfrica Consortium 🧬 Uganda Genome Resource 👶 Drakenstein Child Health Study 🌍 Multi-country African psychiatric genomics collaborations highlighting the growing scale and sophistication of psychiatric genomics research in Africa.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
3/ The symposium will feature researchers working across: • Depression genomics • Population genomics • Child development • Psychosis mapping using cohorts from continental Africa and the African diaspora.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
2/ African populations harbour the greatest human genetic diversity in the world, yet remain underrepresented in genomic research. Expanding large-scale African cohorts is critical for equity, improving biological discovery, fine-mapping resolution, and cross-ancestry transferability.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
1/ We conclude this Twitter takeover spotlighting an upcoming symposium at #WCPG2026 “Advancing Psychiatric Genomics through Large-Scale African Cohorts” 🌍🧬 The session will highlight how African cohorts are reshaping psychiatric genetics globally @ispg.bsky.social
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
10/ 🔗 Learn more: www.psychgenafrica.org www.bioinformaticsinstitute.africa
psychgenafrica.org
PsychGenAfrica
PsychGenAfrica
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
9/ Together, ABI, PGC Africa, and collaborating scientists are helping shape a more globally representative future for neuroinformatics and precision psychiatry in Africa 🧠✨ The long-term vision is clear: ensuring African populations actively benefit from advances in genomics and precision medicine.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
8/ 📅 Key goals for 2026: • Mapping existing psychiatric genomics and multi-omics research across Africa • Identifying major research and infrastructure gaps • Developing ethical frameworks for psychiatric genomic data sharing • Creating professional training opportunities in psychiatric genomics
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
7/ Working alongside initiatives like PGC Africa, the ABI CoP aims to accelerate psychiatric genomics research across the continent through collaboration, ethical data sharing, networking, and interdisciplinary research partnerships 🤝🧬
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
6/ Mental health challenges are rising across Africa, yet African populations remain critically underrepresented in psychiatric genomics research despite the continent’s extensive genetic diversity. This underrepresentation limits both global discovery and equitable translation of genomic medicine.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
5/ 🧠 Another exciting initiative is the Psychiatry, Neuroinformatics, and Mental Health Community of Practice (CoP), hosted by ABI. The CoP brings together researchers interested in psychiatric genomics, neuroinformatics, neuroscience, and mental health research across Africa.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
4/ This is especially important as genomic datasets continue to grow rapidly across Africa. Building local expertise ensures African scientists can lead analyses, interpretation, and translation of African genomic data into meaningful health discoveries 🌍📊
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
3/ 🚀 A major focus of ABI is capacity building through the ABI Training Working Group (ABI_TWG). The TWG is working to develop standardised bioinformatics training curricula and equip researchers across Africa with the skills needed to analyse complex omics datasets locally.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
2/ Through strategic collaborations, training initiatives, and bioinformatics innovation, ABI is helping bridge the gap between big data and healthcare solutions across the continent 🧬💻 Its mission = scientific discovery + building sustainable African-led genomics research ecosystems
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
1/ 🧠🌍 Spotlight on the African Bioinformatics Institute (ABI)! ABI is helping drive data-driven biomedical research across Africa by building computational infrastructure, empowering African scientists, and ensuring genomic discoveries better represent African populations.
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Great gratitude to all contributors and their colleagues @patcheru.bsky.social @kemriwellcome.bsky.social @eliserobinson.bsky.social @anneotation.bsky.social @AKUIHD @emilyoheir @cevanderm @kirstydonald7 @UCTnews @broadinstitute.org 👏🏼💐
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
NeuroDev adds to a growing body of work mapping the clinical, genetic, and sociomedical architecture of NDDs in Africa. There is much more to come as the team continues with the analysis!
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Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) @pgcgenetics.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Socio-medical factors linked to NDDs in the study included maternal infection in pregnancy, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and birth complications. All data, materials, and measures related to the findings are freely available via the NIMH Data Archive.
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