Genes linking PTSD and substance use problems in diverse communities
Official title: Genetic Comorbidity of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders in Diverse Populations.
Funded at Suny Downstate Medical Center · NIH-11111452 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how genetic factors connect PTSD with alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioid problems in people from diverse ancestry groups.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Suny Downstate Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brooklyn, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $676,506 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA060596-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11111452 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have PTSD and/or alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, or opioid use disorders—especially those from African or other underrepresented ancestry groups—would be the most relevant participants or sample contributors.
✕Less likely to help
People without PTSD or any history of substance use, or those looking for immediate clinical treatment, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this genetic research.
What this research studies
This project analyzes genetic information from people with PTSD and various substance use problems to find shared and disorder-specific genetic risks and possible causal links. The team will combine large datasets that include participants from diverse ancestries, with particular attention to African ancestry groups and differences by sex and age of onset. They will use advanced statistical genetics methods like Mendelian Randomization and genomic structural equation modeling to separate shared versus specific genetic influences. Work is coordinated through SUNY Downstate and partner groups to pool data and samples for more powerful analyses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to biological pathways that help prevent or better tailor treatments for people with both PTSD and substance use problems.
How similar studies have gone: Prior genetic studies have shown shared risk and a possible causal link between PTSD and alcohol use disorder, but similar genetic relationships with cannabis and opioid disorders are less explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Suny Downstate Medical Center
Brooklyn, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meyers, Jacquelyn Leigh — Suny Downstate Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Meyers, Jacquelyn Leigh
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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.