Within the framework of the consortium several fundamental studies on depressive disorders are being carried out: the phenomenon of therapeutic resistance and depression (1000 patients).

Phenomenon of therapeutic resistance

— The Project started in November 2017

— A prospective study (3 time points for each patient):

— Clinical centers (pilot stage)

1) V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, Saint Petersburg (Neznanov N.G., Mazo G.E.)

2) Saint Petersburg City Psychiatric Hospital No. 1 named after P.P. Kashchenko (Limankin O.V., Otmahov A.P.)

3) Saint Petersburg City Psychiatric Hospital No. 7 (Clinic of Neurosis named after academician I.P. Pavlov) (Palkin Yu.R., Faddev D.V.)

— Unified design and study protocol (Mazo G.E., Kibitov A.O.), CRF remote database (Nikolishin A.E.)

— The first stage: testing and validization of protocol, bioprotocol, and communication system on a multicenter research model

• Expected sample size: up to 500 patients (by 2020)
• DNA samples: the SPBU Biobank
• Genotyping, candidate genes (Kibitov A.O., Serbsky National Medical Research Center on Psychiatry and Addictions, Moscow)
• Expression of candidate genes and transcriptome analysis (Glotov A.S., the SPBU Biobank
• Analysis of laboratory panel (Shchedrina L.V., V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, Saint Petersburg)
• A genome-wide scanning (genotyping using GSA chips (Infinium Global Screening Array)) ~ 690,000 SNP for GWAS type research (2019-2020)
• Participation in the international collaboration (Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, PGC) (from 2019)

Current state:

1) In 2018, the pilot phase of the project was completed. The final protocol, the common forms of information exchange, the biological protocol, and logistics are formed.

2) At the beginning of 2019 biological samples will be tested (transcriptome, biochemical panel).

3) After completion of testing of all elements of study, the research will be expanded into new Clinical Centers.

— The following are created and have been tested in a multicenter prospective study:

1) System of unified protocol and research bioprotocol.

2) System of remote electronic database with analysis of the activity and quality of work of each physician-researcher.

3) Training system for medical researchers.

As part of the experience exchange a visit of physician-researchers (Nikolishin A.E., Rukavishnikov G. V.) to the Institute of Psychiatric Phenomics and Genomics (IPPG), University Hospital, LMU (Munich, Germany) (Prof. Thomas G. Schulze) to get acquainted with the work of consortia on psychiatric genetics in Europe.

Depression (1000 patients)

— The Project started in November 2018

— Recruitment of patients with a detailed description of the complex phenotype, multu-purpose scaling and assessment of psychopharmacotherapy.

— Patients: 1200, Controls: available (Biobank) with genetic data) (Siberian region, Central region)

— DNA samples: the SPBU Biobank

— A genome-wide scanning (genotyping using GSA chips (Infinium Global Screening Array)) ~ 690,000 SNP for GWAS type research (2019)

— Participation in the international collaboration on GWAS of depression (Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, PGC)

— Analysis of clinical and genetic data from the Russian sample for the local clinical tasks (2019)

— The first Russian genome-wide associative study (GWAS) of depression (2020) (patients: 1200, Controls: 2000)

Current state:

— The Project started in November 2018