Understanding brain and genetic patterns linked to addiction
ENIGMA- Addiction: Pooling of Existing Datasets to Identify Brain and Genetic Correlates of Addiction, Next Steps
Combining brain scans and genetic information from thousands of people to find patterns related to addiction that could help people with substance use problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Vermont & St Agric College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Burlington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324285 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project brings together brain scans and DNA data collected at many hospitals and research centers around the world so researchers can look for common patterns linked to addiction. The teams re-process images and genetic data using the same methods so results from different places can be combined reliably. By pooling many thousands of participants, they hope to spot brain features and genetic markers that are hard to see in smaller studies. The shared database lets qualified researchers propose new analyses without collecting new scans or samples.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a history of substance use or addiction who have brain imaging and genetic data available, or who can contribute such data through a participating research center, are the most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without any brain imaging or genetic data, or those seeking an immediate new treatment, are unlikely to see direct short-term benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify brain and genetic markers that help improve diagnosis, prevention, or personalized treatments for people with addiction.
How similar studies have performed: Large ENIGMA pooling efforts have successfully identified brain and genetic links for other conditions, and addiction-specific findings are now being developed with this larger combined dataset.
Where this research is happening
Burlington, United States
- University of Vermont & St Agric College — Burlington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garavan, Hugh P. — University of Vermont & St Agric College
- Study coordinator: Garavan, Hugh P.
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.