Latin American Trans‐ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics (LATINO): Study protocol
Authors: Crowley James J. , Cappi Carolina , Ochoa‐Panaifo Marcos E. , Frederick Renee M. , Kook Minjee , Wiese Andrew D. , Rancourt Diana , Atkinson Elizabeth G. , Giusti‐Rodriguez Paola , Anderberg Jacey L. ,   Latin American Trans‐ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics,   Brazilian Obsessive‐Compulsive Spectrum Disorder Working Group, Abramowitz Jonathan S. , Adorno Victor R. , Aguirre Cinthia , Alves Gilberto S. , Alves Gustavo S. , Ancalade NaEshia , Arellano Espinosa Alejandro A. , Arnold Paul D. , Ayton Daphne M. , Barbosa Izabela G. , Castano Laura Marcela Barón , Barrera Cynthia N. , Berardo María Celeste , Berrones Dayan , Best John R. , Bigdeli Tim B. , Burton Christie L. , Buxbaum Joseph D. , Callahan Jennifer L. , Carneiro Maria Cecília B. , Cepeda Sandra L. , Chazelle Evelyn , Chire Jessica M. , Munoz Macarena Churruca , Quiroz Pamela Claisse , Cobite Journa , Comer Jonathan S. , Costa Daniel L. , Crosbie Jennifer , Cruz Victor O. , Dager Guillermo , Daza Luisa F. , de la Rosa‐Gómez Anabel , del Río Daniela , Delage Fernanda Z. , Dreher Carolina B. , Fay Lucila , Fazio Tomas , Ferrão Ygor A. , Ferreira Gabriela M. , Figueroa Edith G. , Fontenelle Leonardo F. , Forero Diego A. , Fragoso Daniele T. H. , Gadad Bharathi S. , Garrison Sheldon R. , González Andres , Gonzalez Laura D. , González Marco A. , Gonzalez‐Barrios Polaris , Goodman Wayne K. , Grice Dorothy E. , Guintivano Jerry , Guttfreund Daniel G. , Guzick Andrew G. , Halvorsen Matthew W. , Hovey Joseph D. , Huang Hailiang , Irreño‐Sotomonte Jonathan , Janssen‐Aguilar Reinhard , Jensen Matias , Jimenez Reynolds Alexandra Z. , Lujambio Joali Alexandra Juárez , Khalfe Nasim , Knutsen Madison A. , Lack Caleb , Lanzagorta Nuria , Lima Monicke O. , Longhurst Melanie O. , Lozada Martinez David A. , Luna Elba S. , Marques Andrea H. , Martinez Molly S. , de Los Angeles Matos Maria , Maye Caitlyn E. , McGuire Joseph F. , Menezes Gabriela , Minaya Charlene , Miño Tomás , Mithani Sara M. , de Oca Circe Montes , Morales‐Rivero Alonso , Moreira‐de‐Oliveira Maria E. , Morris Olivia J. , Muñoz Sandra I. , Naqqash Zainab , Núñez Bracho Ambar A. , Núñez Bracho Belinda E. , Rojas Maria Corina Ochoa , Olavarria Castaman Luis A. , Balmaceda Trinidad Olivos , Ortega Iliana , Patel Darpan I. , Patrick Ainsley K. , Paz y Mino Mariel , Perales Orellana Jose L. , Stumpf Bárbara Perdigão , Peregrina Tamara , Duarte Tania Pérez , Piacsek Kelly L. , Placencia Maritza , Prieto María Belén , Quarantini Lucas C. , Quarantini‐Alvim Yana , Ramos Renato T. , Ramos Iaroslava C. , Ramos Vanessa R. , Ramsey Kesley A. , Ray Elise V. , Richter Margaret A. , Riemann Bradley C. , Rivas Juan C. , Rosario Maria C. , Ruggero Camilo J. , Ruiz‐Chow Angel A. , Ruiz‐Velasco Alejandra , Sagarnaga Melisa N. , Sampaio Aline S. , Saraiva Leonardo C. , Schachar Russell J. , Schneider Sophie C. , Schweissing Ethan J. , Seligman Laura D. , Shavitt Roseli G. , Soileau Keaton J. , Stewart S. Evelyn , Storch Shaina B. , Strouphauer Emily R. , Cuevas Vissente Tapia , Timpano Kiara R. , la Garza Beatriz Treviño‐de , Vallejo‐Silva Alexie , Vargas‐Medrano Javier , Vásquez María I. , Martinez Guadalupe Vidal , Weinzimmer Saira A. , Yanez Mauricio A. , Zai Gwyneth , Zapata‐Restrepo Lina M. , Zappa Luz M. , Zepeda‐Burgos Raquel M. , Zoghbi Anthony W. , Miguel Euripedes C. , Rodriguez Carolyn I. , Martinez Mallen Mayra C. , Moya Pablo R. , Borda Tania , Moyano María Beatriz , Mattheisen Manuel , Pereira Stacey , Lázaro‐Muñoz Gabriel , Martinez‐Gonzalez Karen G. , Pato Michele T. , Nicolini Humberto , Storch Eric A. 
Published: November 2023

Obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder. Worldwide, its prevalence is ~2% and its etiology is mostly unknown. Identifying biological factors contributing to OCD will elucidate underlying mechanisms and might contribute to improved treatment outcomes. Genomic studies of OCD are beginning to reveal long‐sought risk loci, but >95% of the cases currently in analysis are of homogenous European ancestry. If not addressed, this Eurocentric bias will result in OCD genomic findings being more accurate for individuals of European ancestry than other ancestries, thereby contributing to health disparities in potential future applications of genomics. In this study protocol paper, we describe the Latin American Trans‐ancestry INitiative for OCD genomics (LATINO, https://www.latinostudy.org). LATINO is a new network of investigators from across Latin America, the United States, and Canada who have begun to collect DNA and clinical data from 5000 richly phenotyped OCD cases of Latin American ancestry in a culturally sensitive and ethical manner. In this project, we will utilize trans‐ancestry genomic analyses to accelerate the identification of OCD risk loci, fine‐map putative causal variants, and improve the performance of polygenic risk scores in diverse populations. We will also capitalize on rich clinical data to examine the genetics of treatment response, biologically plausible OCD subtypes, and symptom dimensions. Additionally, LATINO will help elucidate the diversity of the clinical presentations of OCD across cultures through various trainings developed and offered in collaboration with Latin American investigators. We believe this study will advance the important goal of global mental health discovery and equity.