Genetics of Alcohol Use, Recovery, and Brain Health
Genomics Project
This project looks at genes, brain measures, and life experiences in large families affected by alcohol problems to learn what influences risk, recovery, and relapse, especially for people aged 40 and older.
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-11195702 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join families already followed in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) and complete interviews, behavioral and cognitive testing, and neurophysiological or brain-based assessments. The team collects blood and other biospecimens for DNA and genomic analyses (including molecular assays like ATAC-seq) and links these data with medical, cognitive, and social-environmental information. They are adding new multi-domain follow-up for people aged 40 and older to track remission, recurrence, cognitive changes, and alcohol-related health outcomes over time. Participation may include in-person visits to a study site or remote follow-up with repeated assessments over the years.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults from families with a history of alcohol use disorder—including people currently drinking heavily, in recovery, or aged 40 and older—who can provide medical information and biospecimens.
Not a fit: People without a family history of alcohol problems or those unable to attend follow-up visits or provide biospecimens may be less likely to benefit directly from the study's findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify genetic and brain-based markers that help predict who is at higher risk or likely to recover, guiding more personalized prevention and treatment approaches.
How similar studies have performed: Previous COGA work and other genetics and neurophysiology studies have found risk genes and brain patterns linked to alcohol problems, though expanding these findings into later-life outcomes is a newer focus.
Where this research is happening
Brooklyn, United States
- Suny Downstate Medical Center — Brooklyn, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Yunlong — Suny Downstate Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Liu, Yunlong
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.