# Gene-environment interplay underlying negative family environments and family-based interventions in early adolescent substance use

> **NIH NIH K01** · TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $153,887

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This K01 will provide the applicant with training in support of becoming an independent, interdisciplinary
researcher on the interplay among children’s biologically-informed genetic predispositions for behavioral
disinhibition (impulsivity, sensation seeking, externalizing), negative family environments, and family-based
prevention effects in pathways to early adolescent substance use. The applicant will accomplish this objective
through (1) developing expertise in advanced genomic (e.g., genome-wide associations and meta-analysis)
and bioinformatics methods (e.g., functional annotation, pathway and gene-network analyses) to create
biologically-informed markers of genetic predisposition; and (2) gaining an interdisciplinary understanding of
adolescent substance use across genetic, familial, and prevention domains. These goals will be accomplished
through genomics and bioinformatics workshops, formal coursework in bioinformatics and substance use, and
mentored instruction (including directed readings and supervised research experiences). Instruction will be
complemented by professional development seminars, grant writing workshops, and training in the responsible
conduct of research. Training will be accomplished at Arizona State University’s (ASU’s) School of Social and
Family Dynamics and REACH Institute, with primary mentorship from Dr. Thomas Dishion (expert in family-
based prevention of adolescent substance use). Co-mentorship will be provided by Dr. Laurie Chassin (expert
in substance use etiology), Dr. Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant (expert in gene-environment interplay), and Dr.
Valentin Dinu (expert in bioinformatics and genomics), and collaboration with Dr. Arpana Agrawal (expert in
advanced genetic methods in substance use) and Dr. David MacKinnon (expert in causal mediation analyses).
The first aim is to examine if biologically-informed genetic predispositions for behavioral disinhibition evoke
and/or moderate negative family environments in predicting early adolescent substance use. It is hypothesized
that genetic predisposition will be moderated by and evoke negative family environments, which will contribute
to early adolescent substance use. The second aim is to examine if family-based prevention effects moderate
genetic predispositions for behavioral disinhibition—or moderate genetically evoked negative family
environments—in predicting early adolescent substance use. It is hypothesized that genetic predisposition will
be moderated by prevention effects in predicting early adolescent substance use and that prevention effects
will buffer the genetic evocation of negative family environments. Aims will be tested in the Early Steps (age 2–
15.5) and Project Alliance 1 (age 11–27) samples, which are large, genetically-sensitive longitudinal studies of
familial and family-based prevention effects on adolescent substance use. Training in bioinformatics methods
will be used to refine and create measures of biologically-informed...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9986726
- **Project number:** 5K01DA042828-04
- **Recipient organization:** TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kit Elam
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $153,887
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-15 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9986726

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9986726, Gene-environment interplay underlying negative family environments and family-based interventions in early adolescent substance use (5K01DA042828-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9986726. Licensed CC0.

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