B3308 - The development of genetically-based pathways underlying problematic alcohol use - 07/05/2019

B number: 
B3308
Principal applicant name: 
Frances Wang | University of Pittsburgh (United States)
Co-applicants: 
Bernie Devlin
Title of project: 
The development of genetically-based pathways underlying problematic alcohol use
Proposal summary: 

Problematic alcohol use is a serious public health threat. Research suggests that there exist unique, biologically-based "types" of adolescents who are at high risk for problematic alcohol use. Discovering these types will help us identify personalized prevention targets for this condition. This proposal will examine patterns by which adolescent risk factors for problematic alcohol use (conduct problems, depressive symptoms, and personality traits) are inherited to identify new highly heritable traits. This proposal will also test sex differences in these new genetically-based traits and their relation to problematic alcohol use to shed light on whether differing treatments are needed for males and females.

Impact of research: 
This research could accelerate personalized prevention targets relevant to problematic alcohol use.
Date proposal received: 
Thursday, 2 May, 2019
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 7 May, 2019
Keywords: 
Genetic epidemiology (including association studies and mendelian randomisation), Addiction - e.g. alcohol, illicit drugs, smoking, gambling, etc., Behaviour - e.g. antisocial behaviour, risk behaviour, etc., Mental health, GWAS, Statistical methods, Biological samples -e.g. blood, cell lines, saliva, etc., Development, Genetics, Psychology - personality, Sex differences