Integration of evidence across human and model organism studies: A meeting report.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse and Joint Institute for Biological Sciences at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory hosted a meeting attended by a diverse group of scientists with expertise in substance use disorders (SUDs), computational biology, and FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) data sharing. The meeting\u27s objective was to discuss and evaluate better strategies to integrate genetic, epigenetic, and \u27omics data across human and model organisms to achieve deeper mechanistic insight into SUDs. Specific topics were to (a) evaluate the current state of substance use genetics and genomics research and fundamental gaps, (b) identify opportunities and challenges of integration and sharing across species and data types, (c) identify current tools and resources for integration of genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic data, (d) discuss steps and impediment related to data integration, and (e) outline future steps to support more effective collaboration-particularly between animal model research communities and human genetics and clinical research teams. This review summarizes key facets of this catalytic discussion with a focus on new opportunities and gaps in resources and knowledge on SUDs

Integration of evidence across human and model organism studies: A meeting report

The National Institute on Drug Abuse and Joint Institute for Biological Sciences at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory hosted a meeting attended by a diverse group of scientists with expertise in substance use disorders (SUDs), computational biology, and FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) data sharing. The meeting's objective was to discuss and evaluate better strategies to integrate genetic, epigenetic, and 'omics data across human and model organisms to achieve deeper mechanistic insight into SUDs. Specific topics were to (a) evaluate the current state of substance use genetics and genomics research and fundamental gaps, (b) identify opportunities and challenges of integration and sharing across species and data types, (c) identify current tools and resources for integration of genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic data, (d) discuss steps and impediment related to data integration, and (e) outline future steps to support more effective collaboration-particularly between animal model research communities and human genetics and clinical research teams. This review summarizes key facets of this catalytic discussion with a focus on new opportunities and gaps in resources and knowledge on SUDs

Summaries of plenary, symposia, and oral sessions at the XXII World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics, Copenhagen, Denmark, 12-16 October 2014

The XXII World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics, sponsored by the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics, took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 12-16 October 2014. A total of 883 participants gathered to discuss the latest findings in the field. The following report was written by student and postdoctoral attendees. Each was assigned one or more sessions as a rapporteur. This manuscript represents topics covered in most, but not all of the oral presentations during the conference, and contains some of the major notable new findings reported

Multi-ancestry study of the genetics of problematic alcohol use in over 1 million individuals

Problematic alcohol use (PAU), a trait that combines alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related problems assessed with a questionnaire, is a leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide. Here we conducted a large cross-ancestry meta-analysis of PAU in 1,079,947 individuals (European, N = 903,147; African, N = 122,571; Latin American, N = 38,962; East Asian, N = 13,551; and South Asian, N = 1,716 ancestries). We observed a high degree of cross-ancestral similarity in the genetic architecture of PAU and identified 110 independent risk variants in within- and cross-ancestry analyses. Cross-ancestry fine mapping improved the identification of likely causal variants. Prioritizing genes through gene expression and chromatin interaction in brain tissues identified multiple genes associated with PAU. We identified existing medications for potential pharmacological studies by a computational drug repurposing analysis. Cross-ancestry polygenic risk scores showed better performance of association in independent samples than single-ancestry polygenic risk scores. Genetic correlations between PAU and other traits were observed in multiple ancestries, with other substance use traits having the highest correlations. This study advances our knowledge of the genetic etiology of PAU, and these findings may bring possible clinical applicability of genetics insights-together with neuroscience, biology and data science-closer

Mining social media data for biomedical signals and health-related behavior

Social media data has been increasingly used to study biomedical and health-related phenomena. From cohort level discussions of a condition to planetary level analyses of sentiment, social media has provided scientists with unprecedented amounts of data to study human behavior and response associated with a variety of health conditions and medical treatments. Here we review recent work in mining social media for biomedical, epidemiological, and social phenomena information relevant to the multilevel complexity of human health. We pay particular attention to topics where social media data analysis has shown the most progress, including pharmacovigilance, sentiment analysis especially for mental health, and other areas. We also discuss a variety of innovative uses of social media data for health-related applications and important limitations in social media data access and use.Comment: To appear in the Annual Review of Biomedical Data Scienc

Faculty Publications and Creative Works 2001

One of the ways in which we recognize our faculty at the University of New Mexico is through Faculty Publications & Creative Works. An annual publication, it highlights our faculty\u27s scholarly and creative activities and achievements and serves as a compendium of UNM faculty efforts during the 2001 calendar year. Faculty Publications & Creative Works strives to illustrate the depth and breadth of research activities performed throughout our University\u27s laboratories, studios and classrooms. We believe that the communication of individual research is a significant method of sharing concepts and thoughts and ultimately inspiring the birth of new ideas. In support of this, UNM faculty during 2001 produced over 2,299* works, including 1,685 scholarly papers and articles, 69 books, 269 book chapters, 184 reviews, 86 creative works and 6 patented works. We are proud of the accomplishments of our faculty which are in part reflected in this book, which illustrates the diversity of intellectual pursuits in support of research and education at the University of New Mexico

Opiate-Induced Neuroplastic Alterations to Dopamine Signaling in the Basolateral Amygdala-Prefrontal Cortical Pathway

Opiate addiction is a chronic disorder with high rates of relapse. The failure to maintain sobriety after prolonged abstinence is believed to be due in part to the persistence of potent memories associated with the drug-taking experience. Activation of these memories by re-exposure to drug-related cues can trigger craving in many individuals. Thus, understanding the neurobiological processes underlying the formation of these memories may provide insight into the persistence of addiction. The mammalian basolateral amygdala (BLA) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) comprise a functionally interconnected circuit that is critical for processing opiate-related associative memories. There is some evidence that chronic opiate exposure results in alterations to the function of dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 receptors and their intracellular targets within the BLA, but critical questions remain in regards to these effects within the BLA-mPFC circuit. For instance, opiate-induced alterations to intra-mPFC DA signaling in the context of associative opiate memories has not yet been explored. Furthermore, the role of the DA D3 receptor has not yet been investigated. Finally, there is little understanding of the temporal dynamics underlying these changes in DAergic signaling. Using behavioural models of associative memory formation (conditioned place preference and conditioned place aversion) paired with analyses of protein expression, we further characterized how chronic opiate exposure results in neuroplastic changes to DA receptor expression and signaling in the BLA-mPFC pathway. Here, we report that chronic opiate exposure results in a series of alterations to D1, D2 and D3 signaling within the BLA-mPFC circuit in the context of both opiate reward and withdrawal aversion memories. Specifically, we highlighted the importance of D2 and CaMKIIα signaling within the mPFC, identified the role of intra-BLA D3-Cdk5-calcineurin signaling in reward and aversion memory formation, and temporally mapped opiate-induced alterations to intra-BLA memory molecules. Together, these results provide a more complete understanding of how opiate exposure profoundly alters DA signaling between the dependent and non-dependent states. Interestingly, we found that many of the changes induced by chronic opiate exposure are not only transient, but may be functionally reversible, thus providing an avenue for future development of pharmacological interventions for opiate addiction

Sex and gender in biomedicine: theories, methodologies, results

Sex and gender in biomedicine are innovative research concepts of theoretical and clinical medicine that enable a better understanding of health and disease, evidence-based knowledge, effective therapies, and better health outcomes for women and men. Gender Medicine stimulates new ways of doing research: that is to consider sex and gender at all levels of research, from basic research into gene polymorphisms to health behaviour. New research questions have been put forward that focus not on differences per se but on the development of differences. In this book, contributions from the field of neuroscience, addiction research, and organ transplantation exemplify concepts, approaches, methods and results in the field