PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
TITLE: Interplay of parenting, genetics, and brain function in trajectories of resilience and risk for alcohol
use disorder among high-risk adolescents and young adults
Children of parents with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) are four times more likely to develop AUD and related
mental health problems.[1, 2] Decades of research has demonstrated the intergenerational transmission of
familial risk factors,[3] and the complex interactions between genetic and social-environmental factors (GxE)
underlying risk for AUD. Most research on development of AUD takes a risk perspective, focusing on
genomic, neurocognitive, and behavioral characteristics associated with increased risk for AUD (e.g., low
P3 amplitude even among the uninitiated high-risk offspring). Few studies focus on factors that can buffer
against liability for AUD, to improve any disadvantage of genetic and/or neural risk and to promote
normative development. The main motivation of this study is to examine potential factors that promote
resilience against AUD among high-risk offspring. Given that parents wield both genetic and social-
environmental influences on their children and are among the most important factors during child
development, this K01 will examine the interplay of parenting, genetic factors, neurocognitive function, and
alcohol behaviors with longitudinal data across adolescence and young adulthood in COGA’s enriched and
diverse families. Specifically, I will examine (1) the influence of parenting factors (e.g., parental bonding) on
development of neurocognitive function, (e.g., response inhibition) and alcohol problems (e.g., binge
drinking). (2) the interaction of parenting and genetic factors (e.g., family history density for AUD) on
neurocognitive development and alcohol problems, and (3) determine whether parenting and genetic
factors associated with neurocognitive development and alcohol problems vary by gender and
race/ethnicity. Examining the moderating and mediating pathways via which parenting can affect brain
development and resilience for AUD will help fill existing gaps in knowledge and inform prevention and
intervention strategies. This K01 proposal also delineates new training goals in Brain function and Genetic
epidemiology of AUD, and Health Disparities research. The proposed research and training will provide a
scaffold to focus on broader social-environmental factors (e.g., romantic partners) that may promote
resilience against AUD in a future R01 proposal that will be submitted at end of the K01-period. This K01
will also enable me to build and establish a career as a social neuroscientist, integrating my areas of expertise
(human attachment, psychosocial determinants of self-regulation and social decision-making) and new skills towards
a program of research focused on the interplay of social-environmental factors, genetics, and brain function
in promoting resilience towards AUD and related disorders. The proposed project is ambitious yet feasible
given my background, experience, and proposed mentorship by a team of experts (Porjesz, Meyers,
Wilson) at SUNY Downstate, consultation with Dr. Dick on GxE effects in AUD, Dr. Thompson in the
responsible presentation of diversity findings, and the K01 protected time (5 yrs) for research and training.
