Drug addiction is a devastating and highly complex neurobehavioral phenomenon, characterized by multiple etiological factors, stages and behaviors that have proven difficult to study in combination. The Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction (CSNA) aims to identify the biological relationships between the stages and patterns of cocaine addiction and behaviors that predict drug abuse. To uncover these relationships, we will make use of advanced mouse genetic tools—specifically the Collaborative Cross and Diversity Outbred mouse populations and associated computational methods—that enable holistic study of genes, biological molecules and behaviors.

We are working as a complementary team of investigators from several laboratories and institutions, each bringing deep experience and knowledge in the genetic studies of specific aspects of addiction in the laboratory mouse. Areas of focus include cocaine self-administration, impulsivity, reward seeking, acute drug response and circadian dysregulation.

Together we will test the hypothesis that each addiction risk factor involves a biological mechanism that is shared with drug taking and drug response, and that genetic variation in these biological pathways influences addiction. We will discover addiction-related genes and generate novel mouse models of addiction, data resources, educational offerings and research services that will enable other researchers to readily adopt our advanced tools, techniques and results.

The CSNA will empower the addiction research community to develop new approaches for addiction prevention, early intervention and treatment that take into account the complexity of addiction risk and individual differences in genes, environment and behavior.

The Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction is a collaboration of:

Funding for The Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction is made available from: