# CAP - Genetic and Epigenetic Alterations as Biomarkers for PTSD Diagnosis

> **NIH VA I01** · DURHAM VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · —

## Abstract

The National Research Action Plan (NRAP) (2013) called attention to the alarmingly high
rates of combat-related PTSD observed among service members and veterans deployed
in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a result, the Consortium to Alleviate
PTSD (CAP) was formed to a) significantly advance treatment strategies for PTSD
including interventions for early, chronic, and latent onset cases, and b) to identify and
confirm clinically relevant biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic indicators of PTSD
and co-occurring disorders. This project aims to fill gaps identified in the NRAP by
examining the validity of genetic-based biomarkers to identify PTSD, PTSD course, and
response to PTSD treatment. We plan to leverage extensive existing resources in the
STRONG STAR Repository to examine a comprehensive set of genetic and epigenetic
markers associated with PTSD. These resources include: (1) a collection of human
postmortem tissue of PTSD (n=30) and matched control (n=60) brains; (2) a cohort of
service members treated for PTSD with blood collected prior to treatment and at 6
months post-treatment (n=600); and (3) an epidemiologic cohort of Soldiers assessed
prior to and after deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom
and New Dawn that included blood collection and PTSD assessment at each
assessment (n=4,112). Using a combination of whole-genome microarray and
sequencing approaches, we will: (1) identify genetic (SNP, mRNA) or epigenetic (DNA
methylation, microRNA) alterations in PTSD; (2) characterize the neuronal morphology
of selected brain regions in PTSD and matched controls through Golgi impregnation; (3)
identify top gene regulatory networks among the identified set of genes across the
samples to guide biomarker analyses; and (4) systematically identify, validate, and test
biomarkers based on the mRNA, SNPs, DNA methylation, and microRNA markers of
identified genes. We have assembled a collaborative team of scientists consisting of a
genetic epidemiologist (Dr. Williamson), a psychiatric geneticist (Dr. Gelernter), a
geneticist (Dr. Carless), a neuroanatomist (Dr. Selemon), human postmortem experts
(Drs. Young, Kleinman, Hyde, Thompson, & Cruz), biostatisticians (Drs. Mintz, Gelfond,
Michelek, & Jaffe), and a clinical psychologist (Dr. Litz). In addition, we propose to
collaborate with the DoD Integrated Systems Biology group (Drs. Jett & Hammamieh) to
leverage SysBioCube in order to gain a systems level perspective of our “-omics” data
that will in turn guide our biomarker discovery work. It is expected that this project will be
an important first step in filling the genomic and biomarker gaps in PTSD identified by
the NRAP and facilitate the development of diagnostic and prognostic biomarker panels
to aid in the detection, treatment, and prevention of PTSD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10023154
- **Project number:** 5I01CX001245-05
- **Recipient organization:** DURHAM VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** DOUGLAS E WILLIAMSON
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-04-01 → 2020-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10023154

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10023154, CAP - Genetic and Epigenetic Alterations as Biomarkers for PTSD Diagnosis (5I01CX001245-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10023154. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*