NEK4 (NIMA-related kinase 4) is a serine/threonine protein kinase with critical roles in cell cycle regulation, DNA damage response, and neurological function 1. The protein is essential for normal entry into replicative senescence after a limited number of cell divisions, as NEK4 suppression extends cellular lifespan and decreases p21 transcription 1. Mechanistically, NEK4 forms complexes with DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), Ku70, and Ku80, and is required for proper DNA-PKcs recruitment to DNA damage sites, enabling p53 activation and H2AX phosphorylation 1. Beyond cell cycle control, NEK4 has significant neuropsychiatric relevance, with elevated hippocampal expression associated with increased bipolar disorder risk 2. NEK4 overexpression in male mice causes circadian shifts in anxiety-like behaviors and affects synaptic structure and dendritic spine morphology 2. The gene exists as two isoforms with distinct interaction profiles, both involved in DNA damage response, cilia maintenance, and RNA splicing control 3. NEK4 has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for multiple psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder 45, and has been identified as a candidate gene in ciliopathies 6.