Dorret Boomsma - European Research Council Advanced Grant

European Research Council Advanced Grant

In 2008, the European Research Council began awarding grants of about 2.5 million euro (about $3.5 million) to the top scientists and scholars in Europe via a competition that covered all academic disciplines. Due to the large amount of money and complete lack of bureaucracy and restrictions, these were extremely competitive, with a very strong applicant pool and a 13% acceptance rate. Boomsma received one of the ERC grants for a project on the genetics of mental illness. Her research is focusing on three themes:

  • Neuropsychiatric disorders (ADHD, anxiety, depression) and cognition
  • Depression, anxiety, substance use, abuse, and dependence
  • Depression, migraine, obesity, and cardiovascular disease

The goal of this research is to use her twin database and biological specimens to try to determine which genes play a role in causing these conditions.

Read more about this topic:  Dorret Boomsma

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