THE LATIN AMERICAN GENOMICS CONSORTIUM: DIVERSIFYING PSYCHIATRIC GENOMICS RESEARCH AND WORKFORCE

Sheila Tiemi Nagamatsu; Paola Giusti-Rodríguez; Elizabeth Atkinson; Camila Marcelino Loureiro; Pedro Henrique Destro; Patricia Torres-Rivera; Isabelle Rodriguez-Lausell; Traumatic Stress Brain Research Group; Janitza L. Montalvo-Ortiz

All Papers

Submission

Paper Title

THE LATIN AMERICAN GENOMICS CONSORTIUM: DIVERSIFYING PSYCHIATRIC GENOMICS RESEARCH AND WORKFORCE

Authors

Sheila Tiemi Nagamatsu
Paola Giusti-Rodríguez
Elizabeth Atkinson
Camila Marcelino Loureiro
Pedro Henrique Destro
Patricia Torres-Rivera
Isabelle Rodriguez-Lausell
Traumatic Stress Brain Research Group
Janitza L. Montalvo-Ortiz

Modality

Poster

Subject area

DNA and Genomics

Publishing Date

21/11/2024

Country of Publishing

Brazil | Brasil

Language of Publishing

Inglês

Paper Page

https://www.even3.com.br/anais/xmeeting-2024/836317-the-latin-american-genomics-consortium--diversifying-psychiatric-genomics-research-and-workforce

ISBN

978-65-272-0843-3

Keywords

Latin America, genomics, admixture, consortium

Summary

There is a pressing need to engage more diverse research participants and researchers to diversify genomics studies and the genetics workforce. Collaborative and coordinated efforts will facilitate the work needed to advance the understanding of the specific genetic susceptibilities of diverse and admixed populations. These efforts must also involve significant input from the communities that are impacted so that the studies and diversification efforts benefit the participants involved. Incorporating non-European and mixed-ancestry populations in genetic analyses can facilitate the identification of genetic effects that generalize across populations, pinpoint causal variants, and ascertain population-specific genetic variants. Furthermore, well-studied health disparities across populations highlight the need for more equitable genomics studies. The Latin American Genomics Consortium (LAGC) was founded in 2019 to accelerate psychiatric genetics research in Latin American populations, particularly among Latin American countries and the US. The LAGC has over 100 active members, representing 9 different Latin American countries/territories including Mexico, Argentina, Costa Rica, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and the US. The majority of our members are from Brazil, Mexico, and the US, with ~80% of Latin American origin. 53% of our members are females, across career levels, including faculty and trainees. In terms of psychiatric genetics research, most of our members focus on substance use disorders, followed by depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and others. This is reflected by the recent establishment of disorder-specific working groups and a methods working group focused on analyzing admixed populations. Network analysis of our LGAC membership shows high research productivity, but efforts should be made by integrating researchers based in Latin America in global collaborations. This initiative aims to not only address the enormous underrepresentation of non-Europeans in genomics studies, but to facilitate access to training and resources, and engage traditionally underrepresented researchers in global and equitable collaborations.

Title of the Event: 20º Congresso Brasileiro de Bioinformática: X-Meeting 2024
City of the Event: Salvador
Title of the Proceedings of the event: X-Meeting presentations
Name of the Publisher: Even3
Means of Dissemination: Meio Digital

How to cite

NAGAMATSU, Sheila Tiemi et al.. THE LATIN AMERICAN GENOMICS CONSORTIUM: DIVERSIFYING PSYCHIATRIC GENOMICS RESEARCH AND WORKFORCE.. In: X-Meeting presentations. Anais...Salvador(BA) Hotel Deville Prime, 2024. Available in: https//www.even3.com.br/anais/xmeeting-2024/836317-THE-LATIN-AMERICAN-GENOMICS-CONSORTIUM--DIVERSIFYING-PSYCHIATRIC-GENOMICS-RESEARCH-AND-WORKFORCE. Access in: 04/05/2025