Unravelling the Molecular Signatures of Reproductive Mood Disorders: a Multi-Omics Approach Project

The MoodMAP project targets the challenge of diagnosing and treating reproductive mood disorders (RMDs), such as premenstrual disorder and postpartum depression, which significantly affect women’s health and contribute to the mental health gender gap.

Emerging evidence including our own indicate that these disorders, linked to hormonal changes, may be influenced by genetic predisposition, chronic inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction.

Our goals are to uncover new biomarkers, understand the biological underpinnings of women’s susceptibility to mood disorders, and improve strategies for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Utilizing data from three Nordic cohorts, the project will:1) integrate genomic, inflammatory proteomic, and metabolomic data to map RMDs’ molecular architecture;2) identify functional and causal biomarkers through hormone-manipulated cell data and epidemiological methods;3) predict clinical prognosis using multi-omics data and machine learning.By studying RMDs in concert, MoodMAP aims to reveal the biological basis of female vulnerability to mood disorders, employing advanced omics techniques and state-of-the-art design and analytic methods.

The research team is experienced and interdisciplinary in nature, with specific milestones mapped out for each aim over five years.

This project is poised to transform our understanding of RMDs, enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and ultimately addressing the gender gap in mental health.