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(01/29/2026) VA researchers identified more than 100 ancestry-independent regions of the human genome that influence schizophrenia risk in people of African ancestry, in a landmark study that highlights the shared biological underpinnings of the disease. The researchers analyzed data from more than 13,500 Veterans with schizophrenia and 65,000 controls of African ancestry from the VA Million Veteran Program. While the findings showed much of the genetic risk for schizophrenia is shared across different ancestries, the researchers also identified genetic risk factors unique to people of African ancestry. The findings address a longstanding gap in genetic research and highlight the importance of including diverse study populations to better understand schizophrenia and other diseases. (Nature, Jan. 21, 2026)