Research Focus
The Translational Neurogenomics Laboratory is headed by Professor Eske Derks. The group currently includes 10 members (one group leader, one postdoc, two research assistants, one visiting scientist, four PhD students and one undergraduate student).
The Translational Neurogenomics Laboratory has identified genetic risk factors for a range of neuropsychiatric conditions, including substance use disorders, schizophrenia, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Researchers in this group use genetic data to address questions such as:
- Which genetic variants in the DNA increase the risk of developing a neuropsychiatric disease?
- What is the genetic overlap across different psychiatric disorders?
- What are the downstream molecular consequences underlying statistical genetic associations?
- Which existing drugs may be repurposed for prevention and treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases?
Gallery
Research Projects
Current Research Projects
Genetics of cannabis use
Functional genomics and tissue-specific gene regulation in the brain
Exploring genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of depression
Research Team
Dr Jackson Thorp
Mx Briar Wormington
Damian Woodward
Tingyan Yang
Funding
- NHMRC Investigator Grant L1 (Eske Derks)
- NHMRC Investigator Grant EL1 (Jackson Thorp)
Publications
The genetic landscape of substance use disorders.
Gerring ZF, Thorp JG, Treur JL, Verweij KJH, Derks EM. Molecular Psychiatry. 2024 May 29.
doi: 10.1038/s41380-024-02547-z
PMID: 38811691
Identification of drug repurposing candidates for the treatment of anxiety: A genetic approach.
Woodward DJ, Thorp JG, Akosile W, Ong JS, Gamazon ER, Derks EM, Gerring ZF. Psychiatry Research. 2023 Aug; 326:115343.
doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115343
PMID: 37473490
The association between trauma exposure, polygenic risk and individual depression symptoms.
Thorp JG, Gerring ZF, Colodro-Conde L, Byrne EM, Medland SE, Middeldorp CM, Derks EM. Psychiatry Research. 2023 Mar; 321:115101.
doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115101
PMID: 36774750
Further Information
- Professor Dorret Boomsma, Free University Amsterdam
- Professor Jacqueline Vink, Radboud University, Nijmegen
- Dr Florence Vorspan, Universités Paris Descartes – Paris Diderot
- Professor Peter Visscher, University of Queensland
- Professor Naomi Wray, University of Queensland
- Professor Christel Middeldorp, University of Queensland
- Dr Lea Davis, Vanderbilt University
- Dr Eric Gamazon, Vanderbilt University
- Professor Wim van den Brink, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam
- Professor Damiaan Denys, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam
- Dr Dorien Nieman, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam
- Dr Dirk Smit, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam
- Professor Koos Zwinderman, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam
- Professor Karien Stronks, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam
- Dr Henrike Galenkamp, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam
