Professor Gunter Schumann
Cluster Title: Functional Genomics and Identification of Biomarkers in Addictions
Area of interest
The chronic and persistent nature of addiction combined with low treatment success in adult cases has motivated the search for predictors of the course of substance abuse from adolescence to assist the design and allocation of preventative efforts. Recent genetic findings in the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort have led to the understanding that the usefulness of genetic markers in predicting clinical outcome can be augmented by phenotypic information to be effective in guiding treatment selection. Based on these findings, we now aim to identify, characterise and validate biomarkers that predict the risk, course and severity of alcohol and nicotine abuse and addiction through adolescence to adulthood. Our focus is upon incorporating analyses of Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) datasets collected from population-based, clinical and adolescent samples by UK, European Network and American consortia, with data from animal models of substance use behaviour generated by GENADDICT to provide converging evidence for the selection of candidates for genomic markers. We will maximize added value by integrating these data into a comprehensive programme to identify candidate biomarkers. In this phase of our cluster, candidate biomarkers will be identified, internally and externally validated, and functionally characterized to a point where they can be investigated in clinical trials. In addition to this, behavioural and molecular in vivo and ex vivo animal studies of selected genes will be conducted to explore potential novel intervention targets. Our cluster combines leading teams in human and animal genetic addiction research with a distinguished epidemiological group which has not previously worked on addictions, and we are working alongside Eli-Lilly, as well as South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM).
Policy direction
Smoking is estimated to kill over 100,000 people every year, accounting for one fifth of all UK deaths. Alcohol abuse and dependence are associated with over 20,000 premature deaths each year in the UK, including about 1000 suicides. Alcohol consumption accounts for 9% of the disease burden in developed countries and is linked to more than 60 diseases including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, liver cirrhosis, neuropsychiatric disorders, injuries and fetal alcohol syndrome. The UK is consistently ranked amongst the top 5 countries for prevalence of adolescent substance use. More than half of patients treated for alcohol dependence in the UK, and about 90% of those treated for nicotine dependence, relapse within 12 months. The UK Government spends more than £15 billion annually in meeting the cost of drug-related social and economic harm. By identifying prognostic profiles that predict aggravation of substance use during the adolescent period, when prevention efforts might be expected to have their greatest utility, we seek to advance individualised prevention strategies. In a similar way, by identifying multimodal profiles correlating with clinical severity we aim to advance individualized strategies for the treatment of addiction. SLaM have agreed to integrate and apply both predictive and prognostic biomarkers in their child and adolescent mental health and addiction services, and it is our hope that this implementation will spread to other NHS Trusts.
Co-Investigators
• I Kitchen
Collaborators
• M Baggagley
• A Bailey
• P Conrod
• J Dalley
• W Deakin
• S Desrivieres
• P Donnelly
• C Drummond
• P Elliott
• V Hesselbrock
• M Hickman
• MR Jarvelin
• N Le Novere
• A Lourdusamy
• S Lovestone
• J MacLeod
• J Marsden
• C Muller
• M Munafo
• J Nicholson
• T Paus
• R Plomin
• I Ragoussis
• M Rietschel
• T Robbins
• J Strang
• H Vallada