Awarded to the Feinstein Institutes’ Dr. Todd Lencz, the new five-year grant builds on previous funding and research

Brain-based impairments in memory, reasoning and planning – collectively known as cognitive deficits – are present in several major neuropsychiatric disorders, most notably schizophrenia, affective disorders, autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To further the scientific understanding, causes, and treatment, researchers at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research have been awarded a $3.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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The Feinstein Institutes’ Dr. Todd Lencz was awarded a new five-year NIH research grant. (Credit: Feinstein Institutes)

The new five-year-long research studies, led by Todd Lencz, PhD, professor at the Feinstein Institutes’ Institute of Behavioral Science, builds on previous NIH-funded research titled “Cognitive Genomics as a Window on Neurodevelopment and Psychopathology.” The new studies will tap into the Cognitive Genomics (COGENT) consortium dataset – an international collaborative effort designed to study the molecular genetics of cognitive function. Through COGENT, Dr. Lencz and his team will have access to large-scale, genome-wide association studies of cognitive performance and other genetic and neuroimaging datasets.

“Studying cognitive abnormalities is crucial for understanding psychiatric disorders,” said Dr. Lencz. “Our ongoing research will use our extensive genomics repositories to uncover new insights into treatment targets, biological mechanisms, and biomarkers linked to various psychiatric disorders.”

Dr. Lencz’s published articles highlighting his previous NIH-funded research in 13 high-impact journals, including Cell, Nature Genetics, Nature Human Behavior and the American Journal of Human Genetics. This new research will focus on studying diverse groups to better understand cognitive genetics. It aims to pinpoint essential cognitive areas, integrate brain imaging data and creating biologically informed “polygenic risk scores.” This approach uses extensive genomics resources to offer practical insights for diverse psychiatric disorders.

“Dr. Lencz’s research aims to enhance our understanding of the genetic influences on a range of mental health disorders,” said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes and Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research. “The recent NIH grant will support Dr. Lencz’s ongoing work, potentially paving the way for the development of therapeutics to address these disorders and enhance quality of life.”

Dr. Lencz is an internationally renowned expert in genetics, particularly polygenic embryo screening (PES). He has been a proponent for more research and ethical consideration of PES as new technology develops. In 2021, he was awarded a $2.9 million grant from the NIH to further study the accuracy – and the ethics – of PES.

About the Feinstein Institutes

The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research is the home of the research institutes of Northwell Health, the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State. Encompassing 50 research labs, 3,000 clinical research studies and 5,000 researchers and staff, the Feinstein Institutes raises the standard of medical innovation through its five institutes of behavioral science, bioelectronic medicine, cancer, health system science, and molecular medicine. We make breakthroughs in genetics, oncology, brain research, mental health, autoimmunity, and are the global scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine – a new field of science that has the potential to revolutionize medicine. For more information about how we produce knowledge to cure disease, visit http://feinstein.northwell.edu and follow us on LinkedIn.

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