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A systems medicine research approach for studying alcohol addiction
Author(s) -
Spanagel Rainer,
Durstewitz Daniel,
Hansson Anita,
Heinz Andreas,
Kiefer Falk,
Köhr Georg,
Matthäus Franziska,
Nöthen Markus M.,
Noori Hamid R.,
Obermayer Klaus,
Rietschel Marcella,
Schloss Patrick,
Scholz Henrike,
Schumann Gunter,
Smolka Michael,
Sommer Wolfgang,
Vengeliene Valentina,
Walter Henrik,
Wurst Wolfgang,
Zimmermann Uli S.,
Stringer Sven,
Smits Yannick,
Derks Eske M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1111/adb.12109
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , addiction , brief intervention , health care , psychiatry , addiction medicine , psychology , medicine , political science , law
According to the W orld H ealth O rganization, about 2 billion people drink alcohol. Excessive alcohol consumption can result in alcohol addiction, which is one of the most prevalent neuropsychiatric diseases afflicting our society today. Prevention and intervention of alcohol binging in adolescents and treatment of alcoholism are major unmet challenges affecting our health‐care system and society alike. Our newly formed G erman SysMedAlcoholism consortium is using a new systems medicine approach and intends (1) to define individual neurobehavioral risk profiles in adolescents that are predictive of alcohol use disorders later in life and (2) to identify new pharmacological targets and molecules for the treatment of alcoholism. To achieve these goals, we will use omics‐information from epigenomics, genetics transcriptomics, neurodynamics, global neurochemical connectomes and neuroimaging ( IMAGEN ; S chumann et al . [Schumann G, 2010]) to feed mathematical prediction modules provided by two B ernstein C enters for C omputational N eurosciences ( B erlin and H eidelberg/ M annheim), the results of which will subsequently be functionally validated in independent clinical samples and appropriate animal models. This approach will lead to new early intervention strategies and identify innovative molecules for relapse prevention that will be tested in experimental human studies. This research program will ultimately help in consolidating addiction research clusters in G ermany that can effectively conduct large clinical trials, implement early intervention strategies and impact political and healthcare decision makers.