Tuesday, September 16, 2025 9/16/2025

The biological connection between educational attainment and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in contrasting environments

Award Number: R01MH131013
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/05/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2027

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

The biological connection between educational attainment and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in contrasting environments - ABSTRACT Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental psychiatric condition that substantially impairs educational and work performance. However, the current studies seeking to evaluate the clinical and biological relationships between ADHD and educational attainment (EA) were conducted in European samples from high-income countries. The lack of diversity in these studies halts the possibility of generalization for different individuals and contexts. Therefore, there is a demand within the science community to better investigate mental disorders in heterogeneous societies and impacted minorities. In this sense, countries with high social inequalities, such as Brazil, present a potential context for assessing the impact of social and ethnic disparity-related factors (exposome) on mental health and its relationship with EA and success at work. The general aim of this proposal is to investigate the biological (polygenic) links between ADHD, EA, and EA-related outcomes (grade failure, college completion, and functional illiteracy) in adult individuals from contrasting Brazilian social contexts. To achieve this, we propose a cross-sectional study that will combine genome-wide and epigenome-wide data in a large sample (n = 5,000) of individuals from two Brazilian regions, São Paulo and Porto Alegre. Cutting-edge bioinformatic and statistical approaches will be applied to integrate the collected data and a) evaluate if the European derived polygenic scores for ADHD and EA predict the targeted phenotypes and replicate their biological relationship in the Brazilian population; b) test if their effects are modulated by contrasting exposomes and the continuous degree of admixture seen in the Brazilian population; and c) explore if epigenetic markers play a role in the links between ADHD and EA in this diverse population. This study intends to reveal potential pathophysiological mechanisms involved in high social impacting phenotypes (ADHD and EA). The Eurocentric bias observed in genomic, epigenomic, and exposomic studies might be highly detrimental, as it prevents specific populations of low- or middle-income countries from the benefits of future advances in genomics. The literature has reinforced the need to study heterogeneous populations, such as Latin America's, and establish multiethnic biobanks or biorepositories containing individuals from different environmental backgrounds. Therefore, the present study fits into a highly relevant scientific scenario, and the raised questions are of worldwide interest.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $539,082 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO	RUA DA REITORIA 374	SAO PAULO				BRA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	7/11/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$539,082
														Subtotal = $539,082

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $539,082 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO	RUA DA REITORIA 374	SAO PAULO				BRA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	5/17/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$539,082
														Subtotal = $539,082

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $539,536 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO	RUA DA REITORIA 374	SAO PAULO				BRA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	2	5/16/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$539,536
2023	2022	UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO	RUA DA REITORIA 374	SAO PAULO				BRA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	1/6/2023	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $539,536

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $539,536 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO	RUA DA REITORIA 374	SAO PAULO	SP			BRA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	8/4/2022	NEW	$539,536
														Subtotal = $539,536

Grand Total All Awards = $2,157,236

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

The biological connection between educational attainment and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in contrasting environments

Award Number: R01MH131013

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/05/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2027

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer