Genetic links between PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder in teens and adults
Official title: Genetic relationships between PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder: Integrating GWAS and Deeply Phenotyped Longitudinal data.
Funded at Suny Downstate Medical Center · NIH-11401773 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how genetics and life experiences like childhood trauma shape the risk of PTSD and alcohol problems across adolescence into adulthood.
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 | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $539,941 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030010-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401773 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with a history of trauma exposure and/or risk for PTSD or alcohol use disorder, including adolescents and adults.
✕Less likely to help
The study might not directly benefit individuals who do not have trauma exposure or risk for PTSD/alcohol problems.
What this research studies
Researchers will combine large genetic studies with long-term follow-up data to understand how inherited risk and childhood trauma influence PTSD and alcohol use from adolescence through adulthood. The project uses genome-wide data and detailed, time-ordered information on traumatic experiences, brain development, and symptoms to map how these factors interact over time. By following participants across years, the study aims to identify when interventions might be most effective for those at risk. The findings could help families and clinicians tailor prevention and early treatment strategies for those vulnerable to both conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier, more personalized prevention and treatment approaches for PTSD and alcohol use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Prior large GWAS have shown genetic overlap between PTSD and AUD, and longitudinal approaches are increasingly used to link genes with development over time.
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Identifying brain proteins linked to PTSD and alcohol use disorder
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Cognitive Processing Therapy plus Relapse Prevention for people with alcohol problems and PTSD
This trial offers a combined Cognitive Processing Therapy and relapse-prevention program for adults with alcohol use disorder and PTSD to reduce drinking and PTSD symptoms.
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Finding brain proteins linked to PTSD and alcohol use disorder
This study is looking at how certain proteins in the brain might be linked to PTSD and alcohol use problems in U.S. Veterans, with the hope of finding new treatments that can help those dealing with these challenges.
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Genetic links between PTSD and alcohol problems from adolescence to adulthood
This research looks at how genes and childhood trauma together relate to PTSD and alcohol problems from the teen years into adulthood.
-
Using biomarkers to personalize treatment for alcohol use disorder and PTSD
This study is looking at how certain biological markers can help customize treatments for people dealing with both alcohol use disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, and it will test how well the medication topiramate works for them while considering their genetic factors.
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.