Latin American Trans-ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics (LATINO): Study protocol.

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Psychiatry
• Global Health

Background:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects ~2% of the global population, with largely unknown etiology.
• Current genomic studies of OCD are heavily biased towards European ancestry, potentially exacerbating health disparities.
• Addressing this ancestry bias is crucial for equitable advancements in understanding OCD genetics and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Latin American Trans-ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics (LATINO) study protocol.
• To accelerate the identification and fine-mapping of OCD risk loci using trans-ancestry genomic analyses.
• To improve polygenic risk score performance in diverse populations and examine the genetics of OCD treatment response and subtypes.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of the LATINO network comprising investigators from Latin America, the US, and Canada.
• Collection of DNA and detailed clinical data from 5000 OCD cases of Latin American ancestry.
• Utilization of trans-ancestry genomic analyses and examination of rich clinical data for genetic associations.

Main Results:

• The LATINO initiative is actively collecting data from a diverse OCD cohort.
• The study protocol is designed to leverage trans-ancestry analyses for enhanced genetic discovery.
• The project will investigate genetic links to treatment response, OCD subtypes, and symptom dimensions.

Conclusions:

• The LATINO study protocol provides a framework for culturally sensitive and ethical data collection in diverse OCD populations.
• Trans-ancestry genomic analyses hold significant promise for advancing OCD research and reducing health disparities.
• This initiative is poised to contribute to global mental health discovery and promote equity in genomic applications for OCD.