NCCR-Synapsy

Cutting edge research for decoding psychiatric disorders

Through an innovative approach, researchers and clinicians are combining forces to work on a common goal: improving the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders through a better understanding of the mechanisms contributing to their origin and development. For this purpose, Synapsy projects are organized around two main research axes:

• Identifying genes involved in the vulnerability to mental disorders by exploring biological factors influencing development, from conception to the first few years of life.

• Exploring environmental factors associated with life experiences, likely to leave traces in the brain.

While many mental disorders are, to some degree, genetic in origin, the cultural, social and psychological context in which an individual is raised also influences their development. The challenge faced by the NCCR-Synapsy is to sort out the role that each of these factors plays in the origin and development of mental illnesses.