Prof. Po-Hsiu Kuo of NTU’s Department of Public Health and the Institute of Epidemiological and Preventive Medicine contributed to a groundbreaking global study in collaboration with the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. Researchers from the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Australia, and several Asian countries also participated in the study. Funded by the U.S. NIH, the Wellcome Trust, and the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, the study results were published in Cell on January 14, 2025.

This landmark genetic study on major depression analyzed data from over five million individuals across 29 countries, with one-quarter of participants from non-European ancestries, making it the most diverse to date. Researchers identified 700 genetic variants associated with depression, nearly half of them previously unknown, implicating 308 genes. While each variant has only a small effect, their cumulative impact significantly increases risk and improves genetic risk prediction. The findings also highlight links to neurons in multiple brain regions and suggest potential for repurposing existing drugs such as pregabalin and modafinil. Crucially, the study underscores the importance of diverse populations in genetic research to advance equitable and effective treatments for depression.