B3333 - The Genetic Basis of Developmental Coordination Disorder - 25/06/2019

B number: 
B3333
Principal applicant name: 
Hayley Mountford | Oxford Brookes University (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Professor Anna Barnett
Title of project: 
The Genetic Basis of Developmental Coordination Disorder
Proposal summary: 

Five percent of school age children have developmental coordination disorder (DCD). People with DCD find tasks such as throwing a ball, writing, or brushing their teeth extremely difficult, and are more likely to struggle academically even though they are just as smart. Despite being extremely common, we understand little of why some children get DCD.
We know that sometimes DCD can run in families but we don't understand the causes of this. This study will be the first to look for these inherited causes. We will use genetic data from the ALSPAC cohort to find genes that are underlying DCD. This will help us to understand how these genes affect the pathways that are required in a developing brain.
We will also use this genetic information to help us understand why some children go on to develop other difficulties like ADHD or language problems, whereas other children do not. We can look into how these behaviours interact with the movement and planning difficulties seen in DCD, and whether they are important in the development of these behaviours in typically developing children.

Impact of research: 
The primary outcome of this study is to generate pilot data to identify the first genes involved in DCD. The discovery of the first DCD gene will generate substantial interest. This will place PI Dr Hayley Mountford at the centre of a new and exciting field of study, and form the basis for future, larger research endeavours. Academic outputs will be shared in the form of research articles, with the potential for two to three high impact papers from this study (novel genes, subgroup genetic findings, and GWAS). As this project is of interest to both a human genetics audience and a psychology/ DCD audience, it is important to present to both these subject areas. Findings will be shared by PI Mountford presenting at Europe’s preeminent genetics conference (European Societs of Human Genetics) and attending a DCD specialist meeting in the second year of the project. Similarly, presence at international meetings will build her presence in the field, leading to wider patient cohorts with the ultimate aim to lead the study of DCD genetics, globally. CI Professor Anna Barnett is a world leader in DCD research and will facilitate connections to patient groups such as the Dyspraxia Foundation. PI Mountford will write an accessible article on key findings for the Dyspraxia Foundation, to engage with the public particularly those affected by DCD. Plus, PI Mountford will further develop her public engagement to interact with DCD groups, building a reputation as a geneticist.
Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 25 June, 2019
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 25 June, 2019
Keywords: 
Genetics, Behaviour - e.g. antisocial behaviour, risk behaviour, etc., Cognitive impairment, Learning difficulty, Speech/language problem, Developmental coordination disorder Dyspraxia, DNA sequencing, Gene mapping, GWAS, Gene-environment association , Development, Genetics, Genome wide association study, Neurology, Whole genome sequencing