# Network based approach to identify alcohol dependences associated hub genes for targeted methylation analysis

> **NIH NIH F31** · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $25,923

## Abstract

RESEARCH ABSTRACT
 Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a highly prevalent debilitating disorder and the third leading cause of
preventable death worldwide, generating massive social and economic burden. The mesocorticolimbic
dopaminergic system (MCL) has been consistently implicated in the development of AUD based on the functional
specialization of connecting brain regions. Among others, the MCL includes the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and
nucleus accumbens (NAc), important neuroanatomical structures responsible for executive function, motivation,
and reward response. Chronic alcohol use leads to long-term neuroadaptations of the MCL with postmortem
brain studies offering a unique opportunity to investigate the lasting impact of alcohol abuse in etiologically
relevant tissue. Thus, the broad goals of this training and research strategy are to acquire important technical
and methodological skills which will be used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEG) under epigenetic
control in postmortem PFC and NAc of individuals diagnosed with alcohol dependence (AD).
 Specific aims are: (1) Identify DEG and co-expressed gene networks associated with AD in PFC and
NAc, and (2) test the impact of methylation on the expression of hub genes identified from gene networks
associated with AD. The approach for Aim 1 will utilize weighted gene co-expression analysis (WGCNA) and
gene-set enrichment analysis to identify biologically relevant hub genes associated with AD. Aim 2 will apply
hydroxymethylation-sensitive high resolution melting (hMS-HRM) for targeted DNA methylation analysis of AD
associated hub gene regulatory elements.
 In addition to the strong research component, this proposal offers a robust training program to: (1)
enhance statistical and bioinformatic skills of the applicant for the study of AUD, (2) improve technical expertise
to expand upon existing targeted methylation approaches, (3) develop greater understanding of addiction as a
psychiatric phenotype, and (4) foster the ability to disseminate experimental findings to scientific communities.
These training aims will be completed with guided mentorship from faculty at the Virginia Institute of Psychiatric
and Behavioral Genetics and Virginia Commonwealth University. Training activities will include directed
coursework, technical workshops, and professional development opportunities. With the combination of applied
training and a strong research strategy, this fellowship will foster the development of a future alcohol researcher
beyond what is available through graduate training.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9992785
- **Project number:** 1F31AA028180-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Eric Sean Vornholt
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $25,923
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-05 → 2020-12-11

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9992785

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9992785, Network based approach to identify alcohol dependences associated hub genes for targeted methylation analysis (1F31AA028180-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9992785. Licensed CC0.

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