Career Enhancement for Epigenetic Research on Substance Abuse and Comorbidities

描述(由申请人提供)：表观遗传学药物滥用和合并症研究的职业提升本申请针对表观遗传学议程的进一步进展的呼吁，这需要从多学科方法(科学领域的专家带来学科见解)转变为跨学科方法(以学科为基础的科学家分享彼此的语言、理论、数据收集方法和分析技术的基本理解)。拟议的活动将促进更大的协同作用，并为物质使用障碍及其与严重精神疾病的共病的表观遗传学研究的概念化和开展带来一种复杂的方法。设计了两个具体目标：1)参与短期强化培训计划，通过增加生物医学研究(BMR)理论、工具、数据收集方法和分析技术的知识，更好地将基础行为和社会科学研究(b-BSSR)的中心和存在整合到一个跨学科团队中，重点关注SUD的发病及其与SMI的共病。这包括1.A.)通过为期12个月的一系列面对面和电子课程，提高对基础和行为遗传学、生理学和神经科学的理解；以及1.b)针对与SUDS相关的遗传学和表观遗传学研究中出现的独特问题及其与SMIS的共病，提高研究伦理知识；2)开发和实施一项研究项目，将b-BSSR理论和分析方法纳入既定的研究计划，专注于BMR首要数据计划之一的遗传和表观遗传学分析，酒精中毒的遗传学协作研究(COGA，N=10,646个前驱家族和对照)。更具体地说，2.A.)重新概念化和经验性地检验当前的SUD的表观遗传学模型，包括多用和共病问题，以代表b-BSSR疾病理论相互作用(或通过)彼此、候选基因和基因簇的不同路径。在最初富有成效的多学科合作的基础上，该应用程序由Bernies A.PesCosolido(著名社会学教授)担任PI/候选人，John Nurnberger，Jr.(Joyce和Iver Small教授，精神病学和医学和分子遗传学教授)担任导师，要求一年的保护时间，旨在实现研究重点的转移。这将在一定程度上通过额外的培训来实现，该培训将丰富当前的研究计划，该计划旨在通过提高b-BSSR科学家整合其他相关科学领域的工具和方法的能力，改善在肥胖症和共病问题上的跨学科合作。 与公共卫生相关：物质滥用障碍的复杂原因，包括使用多种物质(多次使用)和与精神健康问题共存(共病)，需要来自生物医学和社会科学的科学家汇集他们的专业知识，以了解并提供解决方案。在社会学家和医学/分子遗传学家之间最初富有成效的合作的基础上，该项目提供了有针对性的培训和研究机会，以促进研究议程，重点是社会环境如何触发、抑制或以其他方式参与药物滥用和共病的遗传易感性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Career Enhancement for Epigenetic Research on Substance Abuse and Comorbidities This application addresses the call for further progress on the epigenetic agenda which requires a shift from a multidisciplinary approach (experts in scientific fields bringing disciplinary insights) to an interdisciplinary approach (disciplinary-based scientists sharing a basic understanding of each other's language, theories, methods of data collection and analytic techniques). The proposed activities will foster greater synergy and bring a complex approach to the conceptualization and conduct of research on the epigenetics of substance use disorders (SUDs) and their comorbidity with serious mental illness (SMIs). Two specific aims are designed to: 1) Engage in a short-term, intense training plan to better integrate the centrality and presence of basic behavioral and social science research (b-BSSR) on an interdisciplinary team focused on the onset of SUDs and their comorbidity with SMIs by increasing knowledge of biomedical research (BMR) theories, tools, methods of data collection, and analytic techniques. This includes 1.a.) Improve understanding of basic and behavioral genetics, physiology, and neuroscience through a series of face-to-face and electronic courses over a 12 month period; and 1.b) Improve knowledge of research ethics targeted to the unique issues that arise in research on genetics and epigenetics relevant to SUDSs and their comorbidity with SMIs; 2) Develop and carry out a research project that brings b-BSSR theories and analytic approaches into an established research program focusing on genetic and epigenetic analyses of one of the premier BMR data programs, the Collaborative Study of the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA, N= 10,646 probands, families and controls). More specifically, 2.a.) Reconceptualize and empirically examine current epigenetic models of SUDs, including polyuse and comorbidity problems as representing differential pathways by which b-BSSR theories of illness interact with (or work through) each other, candidate genes and gene clusters. Building on the base of an initial productive, multidisciplinary collaboration, this application, with Bernice A. Pescosolido (Distinguished Professor of Sociology) as PI/Candidate and John Nurnberger, Jr. (Joyce and Iver Small Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics) as Mentor, requests one year of protected time designed to achieve a shift in the focus of research. This will be accomplished in part through additional training that will enrich a current research program designed to improve interdisciplinary collaborations on issues of SUDs and comorbidity by enhancing the ability of b-BSSR scientists to integrate tools and approaches from other related science areas. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The complex causes of substance abuse disorders, including the use of multiple substances (polyuse) and co- occurrence with mental health problems (comorbidity) require scientists from both the biomedical and social sciences to pool their expertise to understand and offer solutions. Building on an initial, productive collaboration between a sociologist and a medical/molecular geneticist, this project provides opportunities for targeted training and research to facilitate a research agenda focused on how the social environment triggers, suppresses or otherwise is involved in genetic predispositions to substance abuse and comorbidity.