Genetic links between alcohol or opioid problems and depression
Genetic architecture of substance use disorders and major depression
Researchers are looking for genes that may help explain why some people, especially Veterans, have both alcohol or prescription opioid problems and major depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Philadelphia VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11132714 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view, the team uses genetic data and health records from a large Veteran cohort to compare people with alcohol use disorder or prescription opioid use disorder, with and without major depressive disorder. They refine how they define substance problems so people are grouped more consistently and then look for shared genetic patterns. By analyzing many well-defined cases and controls and applying methods to probe causal relationships, they aim to identify genetic pathways that link addiction and depression. The project also focuses on including people of African ancestry to make the findings more broadly applicable.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are U.S. Veterans with a history of alcohol use disorder or prescription opioid use disorder, with or without major depressive disorder, who can provide genetic data and access to their medical records.
Not a fit: People without substance use or depressive disorders, non-Veterans, or those unwilling to share genetic samples or medical records are unlikely to directly participate or benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological risk factors that help with better prediction, prevention, or more targeted treatments for people with co-occurring substance use disorders and depression.
How similar studies have performed: Previous large genetic studies have identified risk variants for addiction and for depression separately, but combining refined case definitions to explain their co-occurrence—especially in Veterans and people of African ancestry—is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Philadelphia VA Medical Center — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hartwell, Emily — Philadelphia VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hartwell, Emily
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.