Leading scientists to advance study of genetics of neuropsychiatric disorder in Asians

LKCMedicine hosted the 2^nd Pan-Asia Symposium on Genetics of Brain Disorders held from 3 to 5 November 2022.  International experts in neuropsychiatric disorders gathered at LKCMedicine’s Ong Tiong Tat & Irene Tan Liang Kheng Auditorium to share their latest findings on the genetics of brain disorders and to pave the way for effective therapeutics. 

Genetic studies have uncovered changes in particular genes that holds promise to better understanding and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.  However the Asian population is under-represented in these studies.  Efforts have been made to bridge this gap through the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) Schizophrenia Asia working group and the Stanley Global Neuropsychiatric Genetics Initiative. This is a gap that international experts at the symposium have focused on to translate genomic findings into better treatments for the Asian population.

Opening the Symposium, Prof Joseph Sung, Dean of NTU’s LKCMedicine said, “Psychiatric disorders are some of the most challenging conditions affecting the world today. They have deep and wide-ranging impact; on persons afflicted with the disorder, to the indirect impact it has on family and society. There is a need for us to do more to improve the lives of persons living with psychiatric disorders. This must start with more research and a solid understanding of biology. The new knowledge must eventually translate into improved therapeutics and outcomes.”

Leading scientists and clinicians from around the world including LKCMedicine’s Professor George Augustine and Assistant Professor Wilson Goh discussed significant clinical, genetic and translational aspects of neuropsychiatric disorders during this two and a half day hybrid conference.

Organised with the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, a global leader in neuropsychiatric research, this symposium brings together leading geneticists, neuroscientists and clinicians from Stanley Centre and Singapore to foster future collaboration in neuropsychiatric research in Singapore.

The conference hosted by NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine was held in Asia to facilitate Asian collaborations in neuropsychiatric research in the region.

It is organised by the Genome Institute of Singapore, Institute of Mental Health, NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, NUS’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.