Clement Zai, PhD
My research background is in Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biology. Through graduate school, I was trained in transgenic technology while working with the Cre/loxP conditional transgene expression system in mice, as well as animal behavioural testing. My ongoing research has been mainly focused on three areas in human psychiatric genetics: pharmacogenetics of tardive dyskinesia and antipsychotic-induced weight gain, genetics of childhood onset aggression, and genetics of suicidal behaviour. My more recent training and research efforts have been expanded from candidate gene studies to include whole-genome association studies (GWAS) of various schizophrenia related phenotypes as well as a GWAS of suicide severity in three independent samples of bipolar disorder patients. Regarding pharmacogenetic studies, in addition to the traditional candidate gene studies, I am also leading a GWAS of tardive dyskinesia on our in-house sample, from actual genotyping to data analysis. We are also starting next-generation sequence analyses of suicidal behaviour. I aim to carry out multidisciplinary research to better understand the mechanism underlying psychiatric disorders, suicidal behaviour, and psychotropic medication response.