This NRSA F32 application requests two years of post doctoral support for Dr. Ajna Hamidovic to extend her training in research in human psychopharmacology. Specifically, she proposes to obtain training to study the genetic basis of responses to acute drugs, in the context of an ongoing NIH-funded research project (DA021336;PI Abraham Palmer;Co Investigator Harriet de Wit). The broad goal of this training application is to provide Dr. Hamidovic with the tools needed to launch an independent career as a research scientist in drug abuse research. Specifically, the candidate will receive training in all aspects of conducting a human psychopharmacological study with genetic variables. Her training will include courses, seminars and one-qnone reading sessions to provide a comprehensive knowledge of the relevant literature, as well as both the theoretical and methodological issues related to this type of research. She will learn all aspects of conducting the research including design, recruitment, screening, testing, supervision of assistants, management and analysis of data, and preparing results for publication and presentations.
The specific aims of the research study are to investigate the genetic sources of variation in acute responses to damphetamine (0-20 mg) in healthy volunteers, in three domains: i) subjective or mood altering effects, ii) effects of the drug on impulsive behavior, and iii) effects of the drug on other measures of cognition. Subjects will be genotyped for polymorphisms in several genes that have been associated with each of these measures. The NIH-funded grant upon which this training project is based was designed to investigate the mood-altering effects, but Dr. Hamidovic will extend this investigation to also examine the effects of the drug on impulsive behaviors and measures of cognition.

Public Health Relevance

The relevance of this study to public health is new information about the genetic variability in the quality of magnitide of subjective and behavioral responses to commonly abused drugs which may help researchers understand why some individuals are vulnerable to, or protected from, drug addiction.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
7F32DA024920-02
Application #
7659565
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDA1-KXH-C (12))
Program Officer
Gordon, Harold
Project Start
2008-06-27
Project End
2010-06-26
Budget Start
2009-06-27
Budget End
2010-06-26
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$63,127
Indirect Cost
Name
Northwestern University at Chicago
Department
Type
DUNS #
005436803
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60611
Holmes, Michael V; Dale, Caroline E; Zuccolo, Luisa et al. (2014) Association between alcohol and cardiovascular disease: Mendelian randomisation analysis based on individual participant data. BMJ 349:g4164
Hamidovic, Ajna; Goodloe, Robert J; Young, Taylor R et al. (2013) Genetic analysis of a population heavy drinking phenotype identifies risk variants in whites. J Clin Psychopharmacol 33:206-10
Hamidovic, Ajna; Goodloe, Robert J; Bergen, Andrew W et al. (2012) Gene-centric analysis of serum cotinine levels in African and European American populations. Neuropsychopharmacology 37:968-74
Hamidovic, Ajna; Childs, Emma; Conrad, Megan et al. (2010) Stress-induced changes in mood and cortisol release predict mood effects of amphetamine. Drug Alcohol Depend 109:175-80
Hamidovic, Ajna; Dlugos, Andrea; Palmer, Abraham A et al. (2010) Polymorphisms in dopamine transporter (SLC6A3) are associated with stimulant effects of D-amphetamine: an exploratory pharmacogenetic study using healthy volunteers. Behav Genet 40:255-61
Hamidovic, Ajna; Dlugos, Andrea; Palmer, Abraham A et al. (2010) Catechol-O-methyltransferase val158met genotype modulates sustained attention in both the drug-free state and in response to amphetamine. Psychiatr Genet 20:85-92
Hamidovic, Ajna; de Wit, Harriet (2009) Sleep deprivation increases cigarette smoking. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 93:263-9
Hamidovic, Ajna; Dlugos, Andrea; Skol, Andrew et al. (2009) Evaluation of genetic variability in the dopamine receptor D2 in relation to behavioral inhibition and impulsivity/sensation seeking: an exploratory study with d-amphetamine in healthy participants. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 17:374-83