Risk and Resilience in Developmental Diversity and Mental Health- HOP ON

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) affect 10-15% of the population, typically manifesting in childhood but often persisting throughout life, impacting mental, cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine health. Research on the mechanisms of NDDs has predominantly focused on clinical pediatric cohorts with NDDs, such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and intellectual disabilities. However, NDD features, such as inattention or impulsivity/hyperactivity, are also common in adults, but often remain unnoticed and unmanaged, leading to significant health and social consequences. Our current understanding of the genetic and environmental risk and resilience factors underlying NDD features in adulthood, as well as their long-term mental and somatic health consequences remains limited. R2D2-MH-HopOn aims to address the gaps in our knowledge about mental health risk and resilience factors linked to NDD features in adults (age 18 and above) by integrating the University of Tartu(UTARTU), Estonia, into the EU-funded R2D2-MH project. Utilizing the Estonian Biobank, one of the largest population biobanks in the world, UTARTU will perform tasks on genetic and non-genetic risk and resilience factors for NDD traits across the adult lifespan, expanding the original R2D2-MH goal of improving the mental health outcomes across the lifespan for young NDD individuals. At the same time, UTARTU will: 1) gain experience in co-creation with stakeholders; 2) get exposed to new knowledge such as predictive machine learning modeling, brain organoid and imaging research; 3) improve connections between data scientists and clinicians; 4) establish connections with the leading institutions from the R2D2- MH consortium; 5) enhance its international profile and visibility. R2D2-MH-HopOn will further strengthen participatory research and reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues thanks to the involvement of neurodiverse representatives from Estonia in project activities.