Tools for Transnational Neuropsychiatric Research

Clinical research on neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders is extremely complex, as patient populations are diverse and heterogeneous. While molecular proof of pathological variants in specific genes has been found in a small subset of patients, widespread use of suitable biomarkers has not yet replaced the diagnostic gold standard of microscopic brain tissue examination to identify the causative pathologies. This examination is rarely performed on living subjects and not systematically conducted on deceased patients. Additionally, for many neurological and most psychiatric conditions, research has yet to produce biological markers that can be used in clinical care. However, genetically based cases of neuropsychiatric disorders offer a unique opportunity for more rigorous studies of natural history and treatment responses, as they constitute well-defined and homogeneous groups. These cases also offer a chance to better understand the biology of more heterogeneous disorders such as schizophrenia and dementia praecox, where subtle forms of neurodegeneration may exist in disease subgroups which could be identified using modern AI-powered pattern recognition methods.

To advance this field, the proposed research group will focus on four critical topics: (1) incentivization and governance of international consortia representing disease heterogeneity at a truly global level, (2) computerized approaches to cognitive testing and behavioral phenotyping, (3) language tests with cross-border, cross-cultural validity, and (4) the combination of "big data" and "deep data" analyses based on machine learning methods. By successfully developing research tools and solutions in these areas, the group aims to strengthen interdisciplinary neuropsychiatric research and complement ongoing approaches in the fields of biochemistry and brain imaging.