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.
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 | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $676,506 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA060596-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-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.
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Written Exposure Therapy for Veterans with PTSD and Substance Use Disorder (brief trauma treatment)
A brief trauma-focused therapy called Written Exposure Therapy is being studied to help veterans who have both PTSD and substance use disorders.
-
Web-based training to treat PTSD and substance use together in Veterans
A web-based training resource helps VA clinicians learn how to provide integrated treatment for Veterans with both PTSD and substance use disorders.
-
Using Written Exposure Therapy to help Veterans with PTSD and Substance Use Disorders
This study is looking at how helpful Written Exposure Therapy can be for Veterans dealing with both PTSD and substance use issues, especially for those in rural areas who might not have easy access to care, to see if it can make their treatment better and improve their quality of life.
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Online training for clinicians to deliver COPE, a combined PTSD and substance-use therapy
This project offers web training to teach VA clinicians how to deliver COPE, a combined Prolonged Exposure therapy for Veterans with PTSD and substance use problems.
-
Five-session written therapy for veterans with PTSD and substance use problems
This project uses a five-session written exposure therapy to help veterans with PTSD and substance use disorders reduce trauma symptoms and stay engaged in addiction care.
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Genes linking PTSD and substance use problems in diverse communities
Researchers are looking at how genetic factors connect PTSD with alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioid problems in people from diverse ancestry groups.
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.