Psychiatric News August 20, 2004
Volume 39 Number 16
© 2004 American Psychiatric Association
p. 17
Research to Seek `Vulnerability' Genes For Alcoholism
Anew research program affiliated with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.,
has set a daunting goal for itself: to identify the genes that increase
vulnerability to alcoholism and ultimately to use that information to protect
people from becoming addicted to alcohol.
"We have known for years that alcoholism runs in families and that
children of alcoholic parents are at very high risk of developing the
problem," said David Mrazek, M.D., chair of the Mayo Clinic department
of psychiatry and psychology in a press release.
"Some genes have already been linked to alcoholism," he stated,
"but every relevant gene must be identified so we can learn how they
interact."
Once these genes are identified, researchers hope to utilize
"personalized therapies for people at risk of developing alcoholism and
other addictions," Mrazek said.
The research program is expected to extend over the next five years and to
cost nearly $20 million, and the Samuel C. Johnson family and SC Johnson Fund
have committed $12.5 million over five years to the program. Because of that
support, the program is being named the Samuel C. Johnson Program in the
Genomics of Addiction. The Mayo Clinic will be responsible for raising
additional funds.
More information about the Mayo Clinic's genomic research is posted
online at
<www.mayo.edu/research>.
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