Understanding how genes and neighborhoods influence alcohol use from teenage years to middle age
Official title: Genes, neighborhoods, and alcohol misuse from adolescence to mid-adulthood in the Add Health study
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11192312 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a person's genes and their neighborhood might work together to affect alcohol use and misuse as they grow from teenagers into adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $314,888 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA031773-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11192312 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project uses existing data from individuals who participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) from adolescence through mid-adulthood.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not part of the original Add Health study or those not experiencing alcohol misuse would not directly benefit from this specific data analysis.
What this research studies
This project explores why some people might be more likely to misuse alcohol by looking at two important factors: their genetic background and the environment of their neighborhood. We know that where a person lives can influence their health, but it's been tricky to understand exactly how this relates to alcohol use. This research will use information from a long-term health study that followed thousands of people from their teenage years into adulthood. By combining data on their genetic makeup with details about their neighborhoods, we hope to learn more about these complex connections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us better understand who is most at risk for alcohol misuse and inform new ways to prevent or address these challenges.
How similar studies have gone: While previous studies have looked at neighborhood or genetic factors separately, this project uniquely combines both to resolve inconsistencies in understanding alcohol use and misuse.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Slutske, Wendy S — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Slutske, Wendy S
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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.