Depression is a big problem for the Dutch society, both in frequency and impact. Because depression is characterized by an important genetic contribution, the BIONIC project is searching for genetic variants for depression, including those which are specific for the Dutch population. A few years ago the BBMRI-NL awarded a grant to Dorret Boomsma and Brenda Penninx for characterizing depression in Dutch cohort studies. After publications of the validity of an online instrument by Mariska Bot and a publication of the prevalence of depression by Iryna Fedko, the study has started a new phase.
In this project, Floris Huider examines, in a collaboration with 15 Dutch academic institutes, which genetic variants are associated with depression. The goal is to expand the knowledge of the biology of depression. In the future this knowledge can contribute to the development of new therapies to treat depression, and to contribute to prediction and the prevention of relapse.
Contact: Brenda Penninx: b.penninx@amsterdamumc.nl
