The "https://bbrfoundation.org/" Brain & Behaviour Research Foundation has awarded Dr. Marta Ribases, researcher of the Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addictions group at Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR), with one of the "https://bbrfoundation.org/grants" National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) grants.The aim of the project, endowed with nearly 65,000 dollars for the next two years, is the identification of biomarkers for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), through high-throughput next generation sequencing. Specifically, she will compare genome-wide microRNA expression profiles in patients with ADHD and controls. ADHD is the most common childhood onset psychiatric disorder, it affects 6% of children and manifests as symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity. The etiology of ADHD is complex, with the involvement of both genetic and environmental factors. According to Dr. Ribases, “given the lack of consistency of results obtained in genetic studies of susceptibility variants, the analysis of biological markers, such as miRNA or gene expression, which can reflect the combined effect of genetic predisposition and environmental risk factors, represents an alternative approach to identify potential risk factors involved in the disease”.NARSAD grants are addressed to young, independent and distinguished investigators in the field of mental health. The grants keep the former name of the Brain & Behaviour Research Foundation, which since 1987 has awarded over 320 million dollars for research projects related to mental illness.