The new study, titled "RNA Editing Patterns as Blood Biomarkers for Predicting Suicide Risk," is led by a diverse team of MŮ researchers who will test if a blood test can assess suicide risk. Principal investigator Helen Piontkivska, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and an affiliate of both the Brain Health Research Institute and the Healthy Communities Research Institute, is heading this innovative project. She is joined by Mark Dalman, Ph.D., associate professor at the College of Podiatric Medicine, and Deric Kenne, Ph.D., director of the Center for Public Policy and Health at the College of Public Health. The project is funded by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which awarded the team a two-year grant for $450,000 to advance this pioneering study.
This research aims to answer a critical question: "How can we better and more accurately detect and predict suicide risk?" This question is a top priority for the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Research Prioritization Task Force. Currently, identifying individuals at risk of suicide primarily relies on assessments of physical appearance, actions and speech, which are often imprecise. Thus, this study is seeking to improve methods of detecting and predicting suicide risk by exploring biological indicators of suicide risk.
“During the study, blood samples from participants who have recently experienced thoughts of suicide will be collected and analyzed for specific changes in RNA editing patterns,” Piontkivska said.
RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a molecule that plays a crucial role in carrying genetic information from DNA to the cells' machinery that makes proteins. Messenger RNA molecules can be thought of as pages of construction drawings that show how specific items must be built, and RNA editing can modify these blueprints so that the product will be able to perform particular cellular functions. Changes in RNA editing patterns can provide insights into how genes are being expressed and may reveal markers of mental health conditions.
“Participant safety is a top priority for this project. At the Center for Public Policy and Health, suicide prevention is a core value, and the team ensures that protective measures, including access to counseling, are in place to support participants and prevent self-harm,” Kenne said.
“The study will use a repeated-measure design, allowing researchers to track changes in individual participants over time. While participation is optional, those who choose to provide additional blood samples later may help researchers determine if changes in RNA editing patterns correlate with improvements in mental health,” Piontkivska continued.
"RNA Editing Patterns as Blood Biomarkers for Predicting Suicide Risk" represents a cutting-edge approach to identifying suicide risk through RNA editing markers, a method not previously explored. The research team hopes that this innovative study will lead to a more effective approach to suicide prevention that leverages current technology by combining traditional physical assessments with biological indicators from blood samples, ultimately improving how we assess suicide risk and approach mental health in general.
To learn more about this novel study, contact PI Helen Piontkivska at opiontki@kent.edu.
“This project was supported by LSRG-2-121-23 awarded to The MŮ Foundation from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.”