RF1MH132337
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Leveraging Genomic Data to Dissect the Association of Internalizing Disorders with the Risk, Onset, and Vulnerability of COVID-19 - Abstract
Although our understanding of COVID-19 and its infectious agent, SARS-CoV-2, is greatly improved and effective vaccines have been developed, there are many uncertainties regarding how and when the pandemic is going to end. Additionally, there are many consequences due to the pervasive impact of COVID-19 on individuals and societies that we will continue to face in the post-pandemic world.
An aspect that is strongly contributing to the ongoing crisis is the systematic lack of reliable information to guide healthcare professionals and policymakers. To apply a network approach to COVID-19 research, we should prioritize the "hubs" connecting the different domains of COVID-19 consequences. Mental health is surely one of the health domains that are being more strongly affected by COVID-19 outcomes. Isolation, psychological stress, and "free-time" boredom induced by COVID-19 restrictions have been consistently associated with increased internalizing symptoms, including anxiety and depression. Additionally, traumatic experiences related to COVID-19 (e.g., severe symptoms, hospitalization, and death of a loved one) have been also linked to posttraumatic stress disorder.
In a vicious circle, internalizing disorders have been associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severe symptoms, hospitalization, and mortality. For instance, SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity can be due to the effect of a weakened immune system associated with internalizing disorders.
In recent years, genetic research has demonstrated to be an invaluable tool to dissect the underlying dynamics related to internalizing disorders and traits. Indeed, genetic information can be used as an anchor for causal inference to test the relationships linking human traits and diseases and to investigate the effect of genomic regulatory mechanisms on disease risk.
Based on our expertise and the supporting findings generated by our studies, we propose a multivariate investigation to identify the latent factors linking the internalizing spectrum (anxiety, major depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder) and COVID-19 outcomes (infection, hospitalization, and critical illness). Then, we will investigate the regulatory mechanisms of these latent factors across multiple omics domains, tissues, and cell types. In parallel, we will also test the interaction of the internalizing spectrum with blood-based transcriptomic and epigenomic changes associated with COVID-19 morbidity and psychological stress.
Our findings will provide a multi-dimensional perspective on the processes underlying the associations between COVID-19 outcomes and internalizing disorders.
Although our understanding of COVID-19 and its infectious agent, SARS-CoV-2, is greatly improved and effective vaccines have been developed, there are many uncertainties regarding how and when the pandemic is going to end. Additionally, there are many consequences due to the pervasive impact of COVID-19 on individuals and societies that we will continue to face in the post-pandemic world.
An aspect that is strongly contributing to the ongoing crisis is the systematic lack of reliable information to guide healthcare professionals and policymakers. To apply a network approach to COVID-19 research, we should prioritize the "hubs" connecting the different domains of COVID-19 consequences. Mental health is surely one of the health domains that are being more strongly affected by COVID-19 outcomes. Isolation, psychological stress, and "free-time" boredom induced by COVID-19 restrictions have been consistently associated with increased internalizing symptoms, including anxiety and depression. Additionally, traumatic experiences related to COVID-19 (e.g., severe symptoms, hospitalization, and death of a loved one) have been also linked to posttraumatic stress disorder.
In a vicious circle, internalizing disorders have been associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severe symptoms, hospitalization, and mortality. For instance, SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity can be due to the effect of a weakened immune system associated with internalizing disorders.
In recent years, genetic research has demonstrated to be an invaluable tool to dissect the underlying dynamics related to internalizing disorders and traits. Indeed, genetic information can be used as an anchor for causal inference to test the relationships linking human traits and diseases and to investigate the effect of genomic regulatory mechanisms on disease risk.
Based on our expertise and the supporting findings generated by our studies, we propose a multivariate investigation to identify the latent factors linking the internalizing spectrum (anxiety, major depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder) and COVID-19 outcomes (infection, hospitalization, and critical illness). Then, we will investigate the regulatory mechanisms of these latent factors across multiple omics domains, tissues, and cell types. In parallel, we will also test the interaction of the internalizing spectrum with blood-based transcriptomic and epigenomic changes associated with COVID-19 morbidity and psychological stress.
Our findings will provide a multi-dimensional perspective on the processes underlying the associations between COVID-19 outcomes and internalizing disorders.
Awardee
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Connecticut
United States
Geographic Scope
State-Wide
Yale Univ was awarded
Genomic Analysis of Internalizing Disorders and COVID-19 Risk
Project Grant RF1MH132337
worth $3,694,722
from the National Institute of Mental Health in September 2022 with work to be completed primarily in Connecticut United States.
The grant
has a duration of 3 years and
was awarded through assistance program 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Urgent Award: COVID-19 Mental Health Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 10/5/22
Period of Performance
9/1/22
Start Date
8/31/25
End Date
Funding Split
$3.7M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$3.7M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to RF1MH132337
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
RF1MH132337
SAI Number
RF1MH132337-536309624
Award ID URI
SAI UNAVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
Private Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
75N700 NIH NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
Funding Office
75N700 NIH NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
Awardee UEI
FL6GV84CKN57
Awardee CAGE
4B992
Performance District
03
Senators
Richard Blumenthal
Christopher Murphy
Christopher Murphy
Representative
Rosa DeLauro
Budget Funding
| Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Health and Human Services (075-0892) | Health research and training | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $3,694,722 | 100% |
Modified: 10/5/22