NIH-funded research R01 grant

Genetics of PTSD and Substance Use in Diverse Populations

Official title: Genetic Comorbidity of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders in Diverse Populations.

Funded at Suny Downstate Medical Center · NIH-11381617 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This grant investigates how genes influence PTSD and substance use disorders in diverse groups to improve prevention and treatment.

More Substance Use research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSuny Downstate Medical Center
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Brooklyn, United States)
Project startSeptember 15, 2023
Project endJune 30, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$676,506
NIH project number5R01DA060596-04
Project IDNIH-11381617 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Individuals with PTSD and/or substance use disorders from diverse populations who may participate in genetic or related analyses.

Less likely to help

People without PTSD or substance use disorders or without participation in genetic studies may not directly benefit.

What this research studies

Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center will use advanced genetic methods to understand how inherited factors contribute to the co-occurrence of PTSD and various substance use disorders (like alcohol, cannabis, and opioids) across different populations. They will compare genetic data and apply methods that help infer causality and shared risk, building on prior findings that linked PTSD with alcohol use and suggested a possible causal pathway. The study aims to reveal which genetic factors are shared and which are specific to each disorder, with an emphasis on diverse communities to ensure broader relevance. This knowledge could inform more personalized prevention and intervention strategies in the future.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better-targeted prevention and treatment approaches for people with PTSD who are at risk for or struggling with substance use.

How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown a genetic link between PTSD and alcohol use; extending this to cannabis and opioids is promising but still exploratory.

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.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.