Genetic Risk Factor for Trichotillomania and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Stephan Zchner, Margaret Pericak-Vance, Michael Cuccaro, Dennis Murphy (NIH), Jens Wendland (NIH), Guoping Feng (Duke), Allison Ashley-Koch (Duke) and Ranga Krishnan (Duke)
Problem
Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders are diagnosed by manifestation of certain behaviors, but many individuals may not be classified as having the disorders until much later in life, thus intervention measures may be delayed.
Solution
Rare variants in the human SAPAP3 gene have newly been identified as contributing to disorders in the OCD spectrum. This gene makes a protein that helps brain cells communicate. Previous studies have shown that the deletion of the SAPAP3 gene in mice caused anxiety-like behaviors and compulsive grooming.
Competitive Advantage
Using genomic information will better predict the risk for developing OCD and the spectrum of associated conditions such that early intervention measures can be taken. Currently, no such approaches exist for these disorders.
Applications
The discovery could lead to testing kits to identify individuals at risk for OCD spectrum disorders, and may lead to improved therapeutics in the treatment of these conditions.
Patent Status
We have filed an International patent application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty ( PCT ) designating all member countries on August 12, 2009. The serial number assigned to this application is PCT/US09/53578.
Licensing Opportunity
The University of Miami, Duke University and the National Institutes for Health seek partners for research, development and licensing of this technology.
About the Inventors
Stephan Zchner, M.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Genetics and Director for the Center for Human Molecular Genomics, Miami Institute for Human Genomics (MIHG) at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
Margaret Pericak-Vance, Ph.D., is the Director of the Miami Institute for Human Genomics.
Michael L. Cuccaro, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Human Genetics and Associate Director, Patient and Family Ascertainment Section in the MIHG Center for Genomic Medicine.
Jens Wendland, M.D., is a Research Fellow, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health.
Dennis L. Murphy, M.D., is Chief, Laboratory of Clinical Science, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program.
Guoping Feng, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center.
Allison Ashley-Koch, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center.
Ranga R. Krishnan, M.B., Ch.B., is Dean, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore; Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Chief, Division of Biological Psychiatry and Director, Affective Disorders Program, Duke University Medical Center.
