Alcohol health disparities research shows that, despite higher prevalence rates of alcohol dependence for whites, blacks and Hispanics experience more adverse social and health effects from drinking and greater alcohol dependence severity. The scientific understanding for how ethnic alcohol disparities develop and are sustained has lagged behind their recognition. The long-term career goal for the candidate of this Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) application, Karen G. Chartier, PhD, is to better understand the interrelationships between genetic, social, and macro-environment factors that affect alcohol consequences for ethnic minority groups. The objectives for this particular application are to test the relationship of alcohol metabolizing genes to phenotypes relevant to alcohol dependence for blacks and Hispanics, and to investigate gene-environment interactions for alcohol dependence severity. These objectives will be accomplished by examining three specific aims: 1) to evaluate the effect of alcohol metabolizing alleles on alcohol dependence symptoms and adverse reactions to drinking;2) to test social factors as moderators of genetic susceptibility for alcohol dependence severity;and 3) to examine the effects of neighborhood social factors on alcohol dependence severity and genetic susceptibility. The proposed studies will utilize previously collected data from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) and publicly available data from the U.S. Census Bureau that describe neighborhood characteristics at the census tract level. Subjects will be black, Hispanic, and white adult COGA subjects, ages 18 years and older, including those affected and unaffected by alcoholism. This research is innovative because it: examines genetic factors in understudied black and Hispanic populations;investigates relationships for alcohol metabolizing genes to more narrowly defined alcohol symptoms;and tests the relationships between the social environment and genetic susceptibility for alcohol dependence severity. The candidate will conduct the proposed research under the mentorship of Raul Caetano, MD, PhD and a team of co-mentors to gain expertise in phenotypes for alcohol dependence, genetics research with ethnic minority groups, and methodologies for examining genetic and social factors. Training activities will include coursework and mentoring in genetics and advanced statistical applications, geocoding for spatial-based data, research ethics, and grantsmanship. Ultimately, this training will prepare the candidate to integrate genetic and social variables in alcohol studies and will facilitate her contribution to health disparities research. It is anticipaed that the proposed studies will lead to advances in alcohol genetics research and further efforts to explain the differences in alcohol severity for blacks, Hispanics, and whites.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed research is relevant to public health because expanded scientific knowledge about the relationship of genes to more narrowly defined phenotypes of alcoholism is expected to advance the identification of useful phenotypic targets in black and Hispanic populations. The analysis of gene-environment interactions will improve the understanding of subgroups of blacks and Hispanics with greater or lesser risk for alcohol dependence severity, information important for developing targeted policy and intervention strategies. The proposed research and career training are relevant to the NIH/NIAAA's strategic goals aimed at reducing alcohol-related health disparities for ethnic minority groups.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01AA021145-04
Application #
8721271
Study Section
Biomedical Research Review Subcommittee (AA)
Program Officer
Reilly, Matthew
Project Start
2012-09-10
Project End
2017-08-31
Budget Start
2014-09-01
Budget End
2015-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Virginia Commonwealth University
Department
Type
Schools of Social Welfare/Work
DUNS #
City
Richmond
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
23298
Thomas, Nathaniel S; Adkins, Amy; Aliev, Fazil et al. (2018) Alcohol Metabolizing Polygenic Risk for Alcohol Consumption in European American College Students. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 79:627-634
Chartier, Karen G; Hesselbrock, Michie N; Hesselbrock, Victor M (2017) Conclusion: Special issue on genetic and alcohol use disorder research with diverse racial/ethnic groups: Key findings and potential next steps. Am J Addict 26:532-537
Chartier, Karen G; Karriker-Jaffe, Katherine J; Cummings, Cory R et al. (2017) Review: Environmental influences on alcohol use: Informing research on the joint effects of genes and the environment in diverse U.S. populations. Am J Addict 26:446-460
Chartier, K G; Thomas, N S; Kendler, K S (2017) Interrelationship between family history of alcoholism and generational status in the prediction of alcohol dependence in US Hispanics. Psychol Med 47:137-147
Martinez, Priscilla; Cummings, Cory; Karriker-Jaffe, Katherine J et al. (2017) Learning from Latino voices: Focus Groups' Insights on Participation in Genetic Research. Am J Addict 26:477-485
O'Shea, Taryn; Thomas, Nathaniel; Webb, Bradley Todd et al. (2017) ALDH2*2 and peer drinking in East Asian college students. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 43:678-685
Chartier, Karen G; Hesselbrock, Michie N; Hesselbrock, Victor M (2017) Introduction: Special issue on genetic research of alcohol use disorder in diverse racial/ethnic populations. Am J Addict 26:422-423
Chartier, Karen G; Dick, Danielle M; Almasy, Laura et al. (2016) Interactions Between Alcohol Metabolism Genes and Religious Involvement in Association With Maximum Drinks and Alcohol Dependence Symptoms. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 77:393-404
Dixon, Mark A; Chartier, Karen G (2016) Alcohol Use Patterns Among Urban and Rural Residents: Demographic and Social Influences. Alcohol Res 38:69-77
Massey, Zohar; Chartier, Karen G; Stebbins, Mary B et al. (2015) Explaining the frequency of alcohol consumption in a conflict zone: Jews and Palestinians in Israel. Addict Behav 46:31-8

Showing the most recent 10 out of 12 publications