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BEDREHELSE-Bedre helse og livskvalitet

Behavioral Genetics Association Anuual Meeting 2017

Awarded: NOK 0.17 mill.

Project Manager:

Project Number:

258093

Project Period:

2016 - 2018

Subject Fields:

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) has agreed to host the 2017 annual meeting of the Behavioral Genetics Association (BGA) in Oslo, Norway. The meeting will be arranged in collaboration with The University of Oslo (UiO), Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology (IP). Twin and family studies have had a huge impact of our understanding of mental health and well-being. BGA is an international scientific organization founded in 1970. BGA has a strong tradition in twin and family research, but also in animal studies and gene finding studies. Phenotypically, although behavioral genetic studies today include elucidating the genetic and environmental contributions to variations in all human traits and disorders, those related to psychological outcomes and mental health dominate the field. Norway has a long tradition in genetic epidemiology, including twin and family studies. The largest research group is situated at NIPH, who hosts the Norwegian twin Registry, but also UiO has strong interests in twin studies. At NIPH, we are by now 15-20 scientists working full or part time with twin and family studies, mostly focusing on mental disorders, mental health and well-being, and substance abuse. Many of our projects are, or have been, funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The BGA organizes an annual meeting where new findings and methods in behavioral genetic research are shared during symposia and poster sessions, alongside keynote addresses by leading experts in the field. Hosting BGA forms an excellent opportunity to expand the interest for twin and family studies in Norway, attract foreign scientists, and increase our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms behind mental disorders, mental health and well-being.

Funding scheme:

BEDREHELSE-Bedre helse og livskvalitet