Combining Neuroimaging and Genomic Approaches to Unravel the Biological Mechanisms of Neurodevelopmental and psychiatric Conditions

Clara MOREAU Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University of Montreal, CA

BRIGHT lab: Brain Research using Imaging Genetics techniques in Humans to perform Transdiagnostic studies, CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center

When: May 19th

Where: Espace Pouillon.

Abstract: Despite decades of research, neuroimaging in psychiatry has struggled to yield clinically relevant biomarkers - limited by issues of reproducibility, population heterogeneity, and methodological inconsistencies. This talk will examine the key reasons behind these limitations, including methodological constraints and the complex genetic architecture of psychiatric disorders. We will present an alternative multi-scale framework designed to enhance the robustness and clinical utility of neuroimaging findings in psychiatry. This approach integrates genetics-first strategies to identify biologically meaningful imaging phenotypes, applies dimensional and transdiagnostic analyses, and leverages multiverse methods to systematically test analytical choices. By combining these strategies, we aim to move beyond traditional case-control comparisons and toward a deeper understanding of brain-behavior relationships in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. Finally, I will discuss recent results on the developmental course and neural underpinnings of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and Anorexia Nervosa (AN).