The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., will conduct a five-year study aimed at identifying genes that may contribute to susceptibility to alcohol and other drug dependency. “We have known for years that alcoholism runs in families,” said Dr. David Mrazek, chair of the Mayo Clinic’s department of psychiatry and psychology. “Some genes already have been linked to alcoholism, but every relevant gene must be identified so we can learn how they interact. This can lead to personalized therapies for people at risk for developing alcoholism and other addictions.”
The research is being funded through a $12.5 million grant from the Samuel C. Johnson family and the SC Johnson Fund.