Understanding brain molecular changes in alcohol addiction
Molecular Dissection of Alcohol Use Disorder Through Targeted Brain Multi-omics
This project looks for lasting gene activity and DNA changes in brain tissue from adults with alcohol use disorder to find biological markers and possible treatment targets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137625 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze postmortem brain tissue from 341 adults, including people who had alcohol use disorder, people with major depressive disorder, and neurotypical controls. They will measure RNA expression and DNA methylation across eight brain regions involved in reward and emotion, such as the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus. By combining multiple molecular datasets (multi-omics), the team will identify region-specific gene networks and epigenetic changes linked to alcohol-related pathology. The goal is to pinpoint biomarkers and biological pathways that could guide personalized diagnostics or therapies in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) with a history of alcohol use disorder — or their families interested in brain donation programs — are the most directly relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People under 21, those without alcohol use disorder, or individuals seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this postmortem molecular research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biomarkers and biological targets that help develop more personalized diagnostics and treatments for people with alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Prior postmortem and multi-omic studies have identified disease-linked gene and epigenetic changes, but translating those findings into clinical tests or treatments is still early-stage and this larger, region-focused effort aims to advance that work.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Girgenti, Matthew J — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Girgenti, Matthew J
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.