Brain imaging studies have given us an idea of which parts of the brain might be affected in OCD, but the brain contains hundreds of different types of cells, and we do not yet know which ones are affected in OCD or what is going wrong inside them. Combining neuroscience with insights from genetics can help us understand the relationship between genes implicated in OCD risk and the brain cells they work in.

This study will use genetic findings to ask two questions. First, which brain cell types are most involved in OCD? The team will answer this by identifying which brain cells make especially heavy use of OCD risk genes and are therefore most likely to play a role in causing the disorder.  Second, what are OCD risk genes doing in the brain? This project will investigate whether these genes work together, what jobs they have, and which brain cells they operate in. The study will link specific brain cells and molecular jobs to OCD genetic risk, which can deepen our understanding of the biology underlying OCD, generate ideas for therapies, and provide patients and clinicians with a more concrete biological explanation for the disorder.