CRC TRR 58 - Z02: Functional genomics and gene-environment interactions in dimensional endophenotypes of fear and anxiety

Basic data for this project

Description

The major aim of the core project is the ascertainment of a psychologically, environmentally and genetically well defined healthy volunteer sample (N = 1.500) serving subprojects of the SFB with stratified individuals (Aim A: Sample stratification). The secondary aim is to study the modulation of endophenotypes, investigated in section B and C subprojects, by genetic variation of novel candidate genes obtained from a parallel study of a categorical endophenotype and the total dimensional sample, as well as from animal models studied in section A (Aim B: Functional genetics of endophenotypes). Parallel to this a genome-wide association study on the endophenotype “anxiety sensitivity”, as a risk factor for anxiety disorders, will be conducted (Aim C: Identification of novel candidate genes). Finally, the interaction of genetic variants from this study and environmental variables on the dimensional endophenotype “anxiety sensitivity” will be examined (Aim D: Gene x environment in “anxiety sensitivity”).