About the program

The Psychiatric Genomics and Pharmacogenomics Program, directed by Joanna M. Biernacka, Ph.D., at Mayo Clinic, is focused on the genetics of complex diseases, in particular bipolar disorder, addiction and other psychiatric illnesses, as well as the pharmacogenomics of response to treatment of psychiatric conditions.

The group provides statistical genetics and bioinformatics support for several of Mayo Clinic's research programs, including the Samuel C. Johnson Genomics of Addiction Program, the Individualized Medicine Biobank for Bipolar Disorder and the Pharmacogenomics Research Network study of antidepressant response.

The Psychiatric Genomics and Pharmacogenomics Program also provides statistical support for psychiatric pharmacometabolomic and neuroimaging studies. As genomics studies of complex psychiatric traits require the application of advanced statistical techniques, the research group works on the development of novel statistical methods for the analysis of genetic data.