This project, NeuroPsyBiT-BD-001: Genomic \& Epigenomic Biobank of Bipolar Disorder, is an observational patient registry designed to establish a large-scale biobank and standardized phenotypic data platform for individuals with bipolar disorder in Türkiye.
Objectives and Rationale:
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic and heterogeneous psychiatric condition with high morbidity, relapse rates, and unmet clinical needs. Genetic and epigenetic factors are believed to play a central role in its pathogenesis, yet reliable biomarkers remain scarce. By combining deeply phenotyped clinical data with biological samples, this registry seeks to create a robust foundation for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS). This approach will enable future biomarker discovery, stratification of subtypes, and exploration of treatment response predictors.
Study Design:
Population: Patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder according to DSM-5 criteria will be recruited through the NeuroPsyBiT consortium, a partnership between the Research and Treatment Society of Genetic Disorders (RTSGD) and the Department of Psychiatry at Selçuk University Medical Faculty.
Sample Size: The initial target is 500 patients in the first phase, with an expansion goal of ≥1,000 patients within one year.
Data Collection: Phenotypic and clinical data (\>250 variables) will be systematically recorded using the NeuroCybe Data Collector, a proprietary software platform developed for standardized psychiatric data capture. Domains include demographics, medical/psychiatric history, clinical course, comorbidities, lifestyle/exposome, treatments, and psychometric assessments.
Biospecimen Collection: Blood samples (EDTA tubes) will be collected for DNA extraction, genotyping, and future methylation profiling. Samples will be processed and stored under ISO-compliant biobanking standards, ensuring traceability and long-term integrity.
Infrastructure and Data Security:
Biobank Management: RTSGD laboratories will serve as the central biobank facility, operating under internationally recognized quality standards for sample processing and storage.
Data Governance: All phenotypic and genotypic data will be securely stored on RTSGD on-premise servers with no cloud storage permitted.
Ethics \& Privacy: Data handling will strictly comply with national (KVKK) and international (GDPR) regulations. Personally identifiable information will be de-identified. Data access will only be granted following approval by both institutional ethics committees and the Turkish Ministry of Health.
Future Access: De-identified datasets and biospecimens will be made available for national and international collaboration upon direct application to the consortium, subject to ethical approvals.
Scientific Impact:
This registry represents the first large-scale, ISO-standardized biobank for bipolar disorder in Türkiye. By unifying deep phenotyping with genomic and epigenomic resources, it will:
Enable high-resolution GWAS and EWAS in BD.
Provide a resource for cross-cohort meta-analysis and replication studies.
Facilitate translational research toward precision psychiatry approaches (diagnostic tools, risk stratification, and individualized treatment).
Create a sustainable national and international platform for collaboration in psychiatric genetics and epigenetics.
Long-term Vision:
The NeuroPsyBiT-BD registry is designed as a scalable infrastructure. In its initial phases, it will serve national research priorities; over time, it will expand to international collaborations, training opportunities, and joint projects. By combining phenotypic richness with state-of-the-art genomic technologies, the registry will contribute significantly to global efforts aimed at unraveling the biological basis of bipolar disorder.
