How genes and biological pathways interact to influence cannabis and alcohol problems
Official title: Identifying specific genetic pathway interactions for drug use and abuse through integrative omics
Funded at Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-11136539 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how combinations of genes and biological pathways relate to cannabis and alcohol use problems to help explain who is at higher risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $552,000 |
| NIH project number | 5DP1DA054373-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136539 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with a history of problematic cannabis use, alcohol use disorder, or both, and those willing to share genetic and health information would be the most relevant candidates for participation or data contribution.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to gain direct, immediate benefit because the work is focused on genetic discovery rather than offering a new therapy now.
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze genetic and other biological data from large groups of people with and without cannabis and alcohol problems using advanced computer methods. They will search for interactions between genes and biological pathways that might raise or lower the risk of problematic use. The team will apply this approach to cannabis use disorder and to co-occurring alcohol use disorder to find shared and specific genetic interactions. Findings will be drawn from existing cohort datasets and integrated with biological pathway information to pinpoint plausible mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve the ability to identify people at higher risk and point to new targets for prevention or treatment of substance use problems.
How similar studies have gone: Previous genome-wide studies have found some risk genes for substance use, but systematic detection of pathway-level genetic interactions is relatively new and not yet widely proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Scripps Research Institute, the
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peng, Qian — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Peng, Qian
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Couples-based motivational interviewing to reduce drug use and HIV risk in vulnerable male couples
A couples-focused program helps at-risk male couples reduce drug use and HIV risk together.
-
How growing up poor in rural Georgia affects children's brains and risk for drug use
This project looks at how early poverty and stress in rural Georgia change children's brain systems and their later chances of using drugs.
-
Understanding why teens relapse after treatment and how to keep them safe
A teen-focused study will look at why adolescents who finish inpatient treatment sometimes return to high-risk drug use and how that affects overdose risk.
-
Peer-led intervention to spread overdose prevention and support quitting opioids in high-risk communities
A randomized trial will test a peer-education program to reduce overdoses and help people who use opioids start or stay in treatment, by using social networks and new withdrawal-focused strategies.
-
High-Dose Medications for Opioid Use Disorder and Retention in Care
This project tests whether adjusted, higher-dose MOUD regimens can help people stay in treatment and reduce overdose risks during the fentanyl crisis.
-
OVAL: How laws about drug use in pregnancy affect pregnant and new mothers who use drugs
A nationwide project is looking at how laws about drug use in pregnancy influence health for pregnant and postpartum women who use drugs.
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.