# Repeated Binge Drinking and the Genetic Regulation of Corticostriatal Synchrony

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR · 2020 · $249,000

## Abstract

The primary objective of the first two years of the K99/R00 award is to provide the candidate with
bioinformatics training in the identification and analysis of brain gene expression networks in preparation for an
academic research career in the neurophysiological genetics of alcoholism. The candidates specific goal for
the K99 phase of the project is to identify gene networks (and key genes regulating these networks) recruited
by repeated binge alcohol consumption within brain areas thought to be involved in loss of control over alcohol
consumption - the medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC) and the ventral Striatum (vSTR; i.e. nucleus accumbens).
The candidate will undertake an intensive training regimen to obtain the necessary skills and expertise to
analyze and interpret next-generation sequencing data. He will further his career development by completing
semester-long didactic coursework in both next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics, and also by
attending intensive short courses on the genetics of addiction, statistical genetics, and network analysis. His
career development will also be furthered by attending relevant seminars and seminar series offered through
the Indiana University Alcohol Research Center (IARC) and Center for Computational Biology and
Bioinformatics (CCBB), and by publishing his research findings, attending scientific conferences, and
interviewing for independent faculty positions. The proposed mentoring team includes, Drs. Christopher
Lapish, Tatiana Foroud, Yunlong Liu, and Howard Edenberg. These individuals collectively are experts in
systems and computational electrophysiology, statistical and bioinformatics analyses, and medical/population
genomics and genetics. The long-standing collaborative research environment at IUPUI, in particular the IARC,
will provide the candidate the necessary resources to complete the aims as outlined in this proposal. At the
start of the 3rd year during the R00 phase of the award, the candidate will establish his new role as an
independent faculty researcher where he will continue his research on identifying, validating, and
characterizing genes and gene networks regulating the brain circuits associated with repeated excessive
alcohol consumption, and genetic risk for such consumption. This will be accomplished by combining newly
acquired skills in bioinformatics with his current expertise in behavioral physiology and behavioral genetics.
Determining the genetic and neurophysiological causes and consequences of excessive alcohol consumption
are directly relevant to the mission of the NIAAA in understanding the neurobiology of alcoholism. Specifically,
the proposed studies will reveal how the coordinated activity of networks of genes mediates the physiological
functioning of a key brain reward circuit to facilitate repeated excessive alcohol consumption. This will result in
a better understanding of why and how alcohol use leads to addiction and will help us develop strategies to
preven...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10077065
- **Project number:** 4R00AA025120-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** David Nathaniel Linsenbardt
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $249,000
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10077065

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10077065, Repeated Binge Drinking and the Genetic Regulation of Corticostriatal Synchrony (4R00AA025120-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10077065. Licensed CC0.

---

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