Cell and blood sample bank for families affected by alcohol problems
COGA Cell Repository
This project collects and stores blood, cells, and health information from families with alcohol use problems to help researchers learn why some people develop and recover from alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Suny Downstate Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brooklyn, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195696 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You and family members could provide medical interviews, psychological and neurophysiological tests, and biological samples like blood or cells that are stored in a central repository. These samples are linked to genome-wide data and decades of clinical and behavioral information from over 12,000 participants. The repository is focused on families with multiple members affected by alcohol problems and is adding new data for people aged 40 and older. Stored materials can be shared with approved researchers to study genetic, biological, and social factors affecting drinking, remission, and health outcomes as people age.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults from families with multiple members who have experienced alcohol problems, especially those aged 40 or older willing to provide samples and follow-up information.
Not a fit: People without a personal or family history of alcohol problems or those unwilling to give biological samples or participate in follow-up are unlikely to receive direct benefit from joining.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this resource could help identify genetic and biological markers that lead to better prevention, diagnosis, or treatments for alcohol use disorder and its long-term consequences.
How similar studies have performed: COGA is a long-established project that has produced many influential findings linking genetics and brain measures to alcohol use, so this repository builds on proven work.
Where this research is happening
Brooklyn, United States
- Suny Downstate Medical Center — Brooklyn, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tischfield, Jay Arnold — Suny Downstate Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Tischfield, Jay Arnold
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.