Dr. Valerie Knopik, a behavior geneticist with expertise in quantitative genetics, holds a faculty position in the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine. A Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) is solicited, to support 5 years of research on the joint effects of prenatal nicotine exposure and genetic risk factors in the etiology of externalizing behaviors in children. If granted, this award will allow Dr. Knopik a period of intensive training in molecular genetics, behavioral and physiological effects of nicotine, maternal and child psychopathology assessments, and epidemiology, which will include coursework, laboratory work, clinical exposure, and research under the sponsorship of Dr. Andrew Heath, a renowned behavioral geneticist, and Dr. Richard Todd, a renowned child psychiatrist with expertise in molecular genetics. In addition to the evidence for genetic effects on ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and conduct problems, there is suggestive evidence for a role of maternal smoking during pregnancy in the risk of offspring externalizing behaviors. To develop a more comprehensive model for the etiology of externalizing behavior, one must consider the joint effects of genotype and prenatal environment. The overall goal of the research plan is to assess genotype and prenatal nicotine effects on childhood externalizing behaviors using a combination of secondary data analyses and new pilot data collection. Most studies that have focused on prenatal exposure to nicotine have implemented statistical control for other potential risk factors, but since the range of potential confounding factors is unknown, such between-mother controls are likely to be imperfect. Using an innovative within-mother comparison that focuses on externalizing disorder outcomes in offspring of mothers discordant for smoking during pregnancy (i.e., full sibling pairs discordant for prenatal nicotine exposure), the new pilot data collection can overcome many of the limitations of previous research. Dr. Knopik's long-term goal is to become an independent investigator with a program of research on prenatal substance exposure and its role in the etiology of externalizing behavior and associated learning and cognitive deficits, and to identify genes (both maternal and offspring) that may affect childhood outcomes of maternal substance use during pregnancy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01DA017671-03
Application #
6909815
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Gordon, Harold
Project Start
2004-07-01
Project End
2009-06-30
Budget Start
2005-07-01
Budget End
2006-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$172,025
Indirect Cost
Name
Brown University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
001785542
City
Providence
State
RI
Country
United States
Zip Code
02912
Micalizzi, Lauren; Knopik, Valerie S (2018) Maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring executive function: What do we know and what are the next steps? Dev Psychopathol 30:1333-1354
Micalizzi, Lauren; Marceau, Kristine; Brick, Leslie A et al. (2018) Inhibitory control in siblings discordant for exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Dev Psychol 54:199-208
Marceau, Kristine; Cinnamon Bidwell, L; Karoly, Hollis C et al. (2018) Within-Family Effects of Smoking during Pregnancy on ADHD: the Importance of Phenotype. J Abnorm Child Psychol 46:685-699
Bidwell, L Cinnamon; Marceau, Kristine; Brick, Leslie A et al. (2017) Prenatal Exposure Effects on Early Adolescent Substance Use: Preliminary Evidence From a Genetically Informed Bayesian Approach. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 78:789-794
Bidwell, L Cinnamon; Palmer, Rohan H C; Brick, Leslie et al. (2016) A Propensity Scoring Approach to Characterizing the Effects of Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy on Offspring's Initial Responses to Cigarettes and Alcohol. Behav Genet 46:416-30
Knopik, Valerie S; Marceau, Kristine; Bidwell, L Cinnamon et al. (2016) Smoking during pregnancy and ADHD risk: A genetically informed, multiple-rater approach. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 171:971-81
Knopik, Valerie S; Marceau, Kristine; Palmer, Rohan H C et al. (2016) Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy and Offspring Birth Weight: A Genetically-Informed Approach Comparing Multiple Raters. Behav Genet 46:353-64
Knopik, Valerie S; Heath, Andrew C; Marceau, Kristine et al. (2015) Missouri Mothers and Their Children: A Family Study of the Effects of Genetics and the Prenatal Environment. Twin Res Hum Genet 18:485-96
Knopik, V S; Bidwell, L C; Flessner, C et al. (2014) DSM-IV defined conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder: an investigation of shared liability in female twins. Psychol Med 44:1053-64
Josephs, Robert A; Telch, Michael J; Hixon, J Gregory et al. (2012) Genetic and hormonal sensitivity to threat: testing a serotonin transporter genotype × testosterone interaction. Psychoneuroendocrinology 37:752-61

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