RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Creating a Global Research Database That Connects Genetic Information and Long-term Health Data to Improve Personalized Treatment for People With Serious Mental Illness

This research study, called GlobalMinds, wants to build a huge database combining genetic information and long-term health data from over 50,000 people living with serious mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and severe depression, as well as dementia. By carefully collecting and linking this information, researchers hope to gain new insights into what causes these conditions and how they progress. This understanding could lead to better ways to diagnose mental illnesses and dementia, and ultimately help scientists develop more effective and personalised treatments in the future. It's an important step towards improving care for these challenging conditions.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Akrivia Health

Enrolment target

50,000

Start

16 May 2025

Estimated completion

01 Jul 2035

Bipolar Disorder (BD)Schizophrenia Disorders Major Depressive Diorder Dementia

What is this study about?

Imagine a huge, secure library where doctors and scientists can look at information about thousands of people who have experienced serious mental illnesses or dementia. That's essentially what the GlobalMinds study is trying to create. It's a research project designed to gather lots of different details from over 50,000 volunteers across the UK.

This information isn't just about symptoms; it includes genetic details (from a sample like blood or saliva), other biological information (called biomarkers), and anonymous general details about their health journey from their medical records. Researchers will then look for patterns in this vast amount of data. They want to understand how things like our genes, our lifestyle, and even life experiences might affect how mental illnesses and dementia develop, how severe they become, and how people respond to different treatments.

The main goal is to find better ways to understand and group these conditions. For example, if certain genes or biological markers are common in a group of people with depression who respond well to one type of treatment, this could help doctors in the future choose the best treatment for someone new with similar markers. Ultimately, by sharing this valuable information with other trusted researchers, the study aims to speed up the discovery of new and improved treatments and diagnostic tools for these complex and challenging conditions.

Key takeaways

Aims to improve understanding and treatment of serious mental illnesses and dementia.
Collecting genetic and health data from 50,000 UK volunteers.
An observational study, no new treatments given.
Involves providing samples and securely linking health records.
Your data will be anonymized and kept confidential.
You can withdraw at any time without affecting your care.

Who may be eligible?

If you're considering taking part, the study is looking for adults aged 18 or over. For those with mental health conditions, you would need to have received a diagnosis or treatment for major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, and have existing electronic health records with an NHS service. You also need to be able to speak English.

For those with dementia, the study is open to adults aged 18 or over who have been patients in old age psychiatry. You would need to have a diagnosis or referral for dementia, mild cognitive impairment, or subjective cognitive impairment, or have been referred to a memory clinic. You'll also need to be able to complete a simple memory test. You must be able to understand spoken and written English.

There are some reasons why you might not be able to participate. For mental health patients, this includes if you are not able to give your consent (permission) to take part. For dementia patients, this includes if you have an intellectual disability, or specific types of dementia like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Huntington's, HIV-related dementia, or alcohol-related dementia.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Do you have a diagnosis/treatment for major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia (for mental health group)?
Do you have a diagnosis/referral for dementia, mild cognitive impairment, or subjective cognitive impairment (for dementia group)?
Do you have existing electronic health records with an NHS service?
Can you understand and speak English?
Are you able to provide consent to take part?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This is an 'observational study', which means you won't be given any new medications or treatments as part of the study. Your involvement would mainly consist of providing some biological samples (like blood or saliva) and allowing researchers to securely access and link your existing electronic health records and genetic information. You will also be asked to complete some simple cognitive (memory and thinking) assessments if you are part of the dementia group. There are no regular visits or follow-up appointments specifically for this study, as researchers will be using information already available or collected at one point. The total duration of your participation, in terms of active involvement, would be minimal after the initial information and sample collection.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study won't directly improve your personal health, as its main purpose is to gather information for future research. However, many people find it rewarding to contribute to scientific understanding that could help others in the future. The risks are very low, mainly involving the minor discomfort of giving a blood or saliva sample. All your personal data will be kept strictly private and anonymous when used for research. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

GlobalMinds central study team
Verified postcode
Oxford, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is the main goal of the GlobalMinds study?

The goal is to build a large database of health and genetic information to better understand serious mental illnesses and dementia, and help develop new treatments.

Will I have to take any new medicines?

No, this is an observational study, so you won't be given any new medicines or treatments.

How will my personal information be kept safe?

All your personal details will be made anonymous and kept strictly private and confidential when used for research.

Do I need to visit a clinic often for this study?

There are no ongoing clinic visits for this study. Your participation mainly involves providing some samples and allowing access to your existing medical records.

Can I change my mind after joining the study?

Yes, you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, and it won't affect your medical care.

How to find out more

Samantha Yuille, PhD

samantha.yuille@akriviahealth.com (44) 7827018555 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.