Genes, neighborhoods, and alcohol misuse from adolescence to mid-adulthood
Official title: Genes, neighborhoods, and alcohol misuse from adolescence to mid-adulthood in the Add Health study
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11375116 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study using genetic data and neighborhood information to understand how where you live and your genetics influence alcohol use from adolescence into adulthood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $314,888 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA031773-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11375116 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals who were part of the Add Health cohort and have available genetic data and residential history.
✕Less likely to help
People not represented in the Add Health dataset or without genetic data may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will analyze data from a large cohort followed since adolescence, focusing on how neighborhood contexts and genetic risk together relate to alcohol use and misuse over time. Researchers will combine genetic polygenic risk scores with census-based neighborhood features to explore patterns across five waves of data spanning youth to adulthood. The study uses existing data and linked administrative records to look for connections that could explain disparities in alcohol-related health outcomes. By identifying how environment and biology interact, the work may point to targeted prevention strategies for at-risk youth and young adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform personalized prevention efforts and community policies to reduce alcohol-related harms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous similar analyses have shown that genetics and environment interact to influence health behaviors, but this study applies a longitudinal design with rich, linked data.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Slutske, Wendy S — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Slutske, Wendy S
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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.