Overview of Programs

Jerusalem Perinatal Program

NIMH R01. Dolores Malaspina, PI

This study examines the genetic mechanism for Paternal Age Related Schizophrenia in a prospect birth cohort

The Jerusalem Perinatal Study recorded information on population-based cohorts of 92,408 live and stillbirths in 1964-76, and their parents, with active surveillance of infant deaths and birth defects. Data on maternal conditions, obstetric complications and interventions during labor and delivery were recorded for 92% of the births. Subsets were specially surveyed: there were 11,467 antenatal interviews in 1965-68; 17,782 pediatric admissions to the hospital; and 16,912 postpartum interviews in 1975-76. Data from some offspring were linked to records of a health examination at age 17. The offspring, mother and fathers have been traced recently, their survival recorded, adn their data linked to Israel's Cancer Registry and Psychiatric Registry. Names, identity numbers and other identifying information have been removed and the database is used by medical and social researchers at our institution and by our collaborators in Israel and elsewhere. An article published in 2007 summarizes the different types of data available, their sources, and some potential biases. It described some of the characteristics of this unique population and reviewed what we have learned in the firsst 40 years after the study was started.

Epigenetics and Female Reproductive Cancers

NIH/NCI K07. Mary Perrin, PI
To study X-chromosome inactivation and loss of imprinting at IGF2 among 498 sisters discordant for breast cancer and study skewed X-chromosome inactivation in ovarian cancer.

Skewed X-chromosome inactivation and Schizophrenia

NARSAD Young Investigator Award. Mary Perrin, PI
Purpose is to study whether there is a higher frequency of skewed X-chromosome inactivation among females with schizophrenia compared to their unaffected sisters. Will also determine the parental origin of the predominantly active X-chromosome.

Psychiatric Disorders Following Intrauterine Stress

NIH K08. Karine Kleinhaus, PI
This study investigates the effects of acute stress on women during pregnancy and the neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive outcomes in their offspring.

Epidemiologic Studies of the incidence of schizophrenia

Susan Harlap, PI
This project studies factors that alter the incidence of schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions in 40,000 pairs of parents and their 90,000 offspring

Completed Projects

Olfactory Processing and Social Function in Schizophrenia. D Malaspina (PI) NIMH R01. 2004-2008

Cancer in the Jerusalem Perinatal Study Cohort. S Harlap (PI) NCI R01 2003-2007

Familiarity of Schizophrenia and Malignancy. S Harlap (PI) NARSAD, Distinguished Investigator Award. 2004-2006

Jerusalem Perinatal Cohort Schizophrenia Study. D Malaspina (PI) NIMH R01. 1999-2005

Translational Study of Paternal Age Related Schizophrenia. D Malaspina (PI) Mathers Foundation Grant. 2001-2004

An Endophenotype for Sporadic Schizophrenia. D Malaspina (PI) NARSAD, Established Investigator Award. 2001-2004