Exploring the Genetics of Schizophrenia in Manitoba (GENES-MB)

June 12, 2026 updated by: Kaarina Kowalec, University of Manitoba

Uncovering Schizophrenia Genetics Through Whole Genome Sequencing Across Manitoba

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects about 1 in 100 Canadians, shortens life expectancy, and places a large burden on individuals, families, and the healthcare system. Genetics are known to play a major role, but current research explains only part of the inherited risk because most studies have looked at only a small portion of the genome and have mainly focused on people outside Canada. This project will create the first large-scale Manitoba-based schizophrenia whole-genome sequencing database by studying 1,500 Manitobans with and without schizophrenia using both short-read and advanced long-read genome sequencing technologies. Researchers will combine genetic data with lifelong provincial health records to better understand rare genetic variants linked to schizophrenia and how genetic differences influence medication response, side effects, hospitalizations, and treatment outcomes. The study aims to fill important gaps in schizophrenia research in Canada, improve understanding of the disorder's biology, and support the development of more personalized and effective treatments for people living with schizophrenia.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

This study aims to better understand the genetic factors involved in schizophrenia by collecting saliva samples from people with schizophrenia and individuals without psychiatric disorders across Manitoba. Researchers will use advanced genome sequencing to examine differences in genetic variation and identify genes that may contribute to schizophrenia. By combining genetic information with health and clinical data, this research will help improve our understanding of schizophrenia and support the development of more personalized approaches to treatment and care. People with schizophrenia (cases) will be recruited through participating psychosis clinics in Manitoba, review and sign a consent form, provide a saliva sample for genetic testing, allow researchers to use information already collected through the Manitoba Psychosis Registry and link it with health records. People without schizophrenia or other major psychiatric disorders (screened controls) will be screened to ensure they meet eligibility requirements, review and sign a consent form, complete questionnaires about their health, quality of life, and life experiences, provide a saliva sample for genetic testing, allow researchers to link their genetic information with health records. Objective: To understand how genes contribute to schizophrenia and psychosis by analyzing DNA samples from people with and without these conditions. Endpoints: Collection of DNA samples, identification of genetic differences associated with schizophrenia and psychosis, and understanding how these genetic factors relate to symptoms, health outcomes, and disease risk.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
1500

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Manitoba
      • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3E0T5
        • University of Manitoba
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The schizophrenia study population will consist of Manitoba residents aged 18 years and older with a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM-5 criteria. Participants will be recruited from the MPR, including individuals receiving care through the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Service (EPPIS), Schizophrenia Treatment and Education Program (STEP), Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT), and Assertive Community Treatment/Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (ACT/FACT) teams. Eligible participants must be enrolled in the MPR and provide informed consent to participate in the genetic sub-study. Participants will provide saliva samples for DNA extraction and whole genome sequencing, and their genetic data will be linked with clinical, questionnaire, and provincial administrative health data to support research on the genetic basis of schizophrenia and related health outcomes.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals aged 18 years and older,
  • Reside in Manitoba,
  • Involved in the EPPIS, STEP, PACT, ACT/FACTT clinics,
  • Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia using standard DSM-5 criteria,
  • Previously consented and enrolled in the MPR.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • There are no specific exclusion criteria beyond meeting the inclusion criteria or not providing informed consent.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Schizophrenia (cases)
The schizophrenia case group will consist of Manitoba residents aged 18 years and older who have a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia based on standard DSM-5 criteria and who are already enrolled in the Manitoba Psychosis Registry (MPR). Participants will be recruited through psychosis-focused clinical programs in Manitoba, including the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Service (EPPIS), Schizophrenia Treatment and Education Program (STEP), Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT), and Assertive Community Treatment/Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (ACT/FACT) teams. Cases will provide saliva samples for DNA extraction and whole genome sequencing, and genetic data will be linked with clinical information, questionnaire data, and provincial health administrative data to investigate the genetic basis of schizophrenia and related health outcomes.
Control (screened)
The screened control group will consist of Manitoba residents aged 40 years and older who have no known history of psychiatric disorders. Potential controls will be identified through the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository and recruited by invitation. Individuals will be excluded if they have had contact with a psychiatric specialist or have a history of antidepressant, lithium, mood stabilizer, or antipsychotic medication use. Participants will provide saliva samples for DNA extraction and whole genome sequencing, and their genetic data will be linked with provincial health administrative data. This group will serve as a comparison population for investigating genetic differences associated with schizophrenia.
Control (unscreened)
An unscreened control group of approximately 2,500 individuals from Manitoba and Saskatchewan will be included through the PrairieGen project. These participants were sequenced using the same whole genome sequencing technologies as the study participants and represent the general Prairie population. While no psychiatric screening or health administrative data linkage will be available for this group, they will provide a population-based genetic reference to improve statistical power and enhance the generalizability of genetic findings.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Genetic variation associated with schizophrenia
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Identification of rare and common genetic variants through short-read and long-read whole genome sequencing. Comparison of genetic variant burden between schizophrenia cases and controls.
through study completion, an average of 1 year
Rare variant burden in schizophrenia
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Evaluation of the frequency and distribution of rare genetic variants in individuals with schizophrenia compared with controls.
through study completion, an average of 1 year
Pharmacogenetic associations
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Identification of genetic variants associated with antipsychotic treatment response and adverse drug reactions.
through study completion, an average of 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Manitoba

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 1, 2031

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 1, 2031

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 12, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 12, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • RITHIM #4915
  • PJT-206077 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

IPD may or may not be shared depending on whether the participant consents to allowing sharing.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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