Cohort: Neurological disorders

This sequencing project will help us better understand rare and aging-related neurological disorders affecting Canadians.

Abstract: This collaborative project, NRGI (pronounced energy), led by The Neuro at McGill University in collaboration with the CHUM at Université de Montréal, aims to sequence genomic samples from 8,700 individuals to map the genetic contribution to neurological disorders, and to contribute to Genome Canada’s larger goal of 100,000 samples nationwide. The study will include individuals affected by various neurological conditions, as well as healthy controls and Indigenous populations. This diverse cohort will help build a comprehensive resource of genetic and clinical diversity linked to these disorders and will contribute to increasing our knowledge related to rare and aging-related disorders: two research fields identified as priorities in Canada. The project will use a combination of short- read sequencing and long-read sequencing to capture a detailed view of genetic variants. Complementary data, including PBMC collection, RNA sequencing and epigenetic data will provide insights into the biological mechanisms behind these conditions. The data collection will also include clinical information, permission to recontact participants, and the ability to connect to health records for future studies, making it a valuable longitudinal resource. Aligned with The Neuro’s open-science goals, the initiative will promote data sharing and collaboration, advancing research on disease mechanisms, biomarkers, and potential therapies, while supporting development of trial-ready cohorts.