Part 4: Psychiatric Research

Part 4: Psychiatric Research. 

Make your way to the center of the three orange and white wedge-shaped exhibit structures, just past the S-shaped sofa. Here you will find our gallery dedicated to psychiatric research. 

Begin your exploration of this gallery with the outside panel of the wedge facing the circular reception desk. Here we explain how psychiatric conditions are experienced by millions of people around the world, but are poorly understood. The goal of our research is to better understand what causes disruption in mood, thinking, behavior, and perception and to identify the genetic factors that can increase the risk of a psychiatric condition. Society has often stigmatized those with psychiatric conditions in part due to a lack of understanding of the brain. Scientists can reshape this conversation by revealing the biological roots of these conditions.

As you move back around to the inside panel of this same wedge, you’ll learn more about how we are looking for biomarkers for psychiatric conditions, which can help improve diagnosis. The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute focuses on conditions like schizophrenia. We’ve conducted several large studies of schizophrenia and have discovered around 300 variants of genes that may be connected to the condition. Scientists are working on understanding these specific genes better, including their functions, and how they may relate to schizophrenia. Take a moment to Take a Deeper Look into that work at the digital exhibit behind you. 

The final exhibit structure in this gallery focuses on a major challenge in our work. Scientific datasets, which include sequenced genetic information from people who have participated in research studies, do not reflect the world’s population. Take a moment to watch testimonies in the digital Point of View exhibit on the inside panel, and also to learn a bit about the Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations Psychosis project (or Neuro-GAP) on the outside panel. This research partnership directly addresses the imbalance in scientific data sets, and connects great minds across the world to think about the conditions of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

When you’re ready, make your way towards the four bright red and white wedge-shaped exhibits at the center of the museum.