Polygenic Predictors of Alcohol Response in Social Drinking Settings
Funded at Carnegie-Mellon University · NIH-11343109 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new study will look at how genetic risk for alcohol use disorders relates to real-time reactions to alcohol when people drink together with friends.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Carnegie-Mellon University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 3, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $593,733 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AA033096-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11343109 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young adults or adults who drink alcohol and may have varying risk for alcohol use disorders could participate.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not drink or have no interest in participating in social drinking studies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses genetic scores and real-time data from social drinking sessions to understand how inherited risk for AUD influences how people feel after drinking in social settings. It combines polygenic risk scoring with ecologically valid drinking paradigms to capture responses as they occur with others, rather than in solitary tests. The goal is to connect genetic signals with immediate experiences of alcohol’s reinforcing effects in everyday contexts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help identify individuals at higher risk for problematic drinking and inform personalized prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that polygenic risk scores can predict AUD risk, but this study tests real-time social drinking responses, which is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Carnegie-Mellon University
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Creswell, Kasey G. — Carnegie-Mellon University
- Study coordinator: Creswell, Kasey G.
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.