SCIENTIFIC MISSION

In response to the overwhelming evidence from twin, family, and adoption studies for a major genetic influence on vulnerability to alcoholism, NIAAA has funded the Collaborative Studies on Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) since 1989, with the goal of identifying the specific genes underlying this vulnerability. The COGA investigators, in the course of carrying out their own genetic linkage studies of alcoholism, have assembled a collection of >300 extended families densely affected by alcoholism, consisting collectively of >3000 individuals. They have collected extensive clinical, neuropsychological, electrophysiological, biochemical, and genetic data, and established a repository of immortalized cell lines from these individuals, to serve as a permanent source of DNA for genetic studies. In order to promote the most rapid possible progress in identifying genes influencing vulnerability to alcoholism, NIAAA is supporting COGA's distribution of these data and biomaterials to qualified investigators in the broader scientific community. Recipients of data and biomaterials will be responsible for defraying the cost of their distribution, as described below, under Access to Data and Biomaterials.

Since 1989, pedigrees densely affected with alcoholism (DSM-III-R) have been ascertained at six sites (SUNY Downstate Health Sciences Center, University of Connecticut, Indiana University, Washington University, University of Iowa, and The University of California at San Diego). Diagnoses of alcohol dependence according to several diagnostic systems (e.g., DSM-III-R, Feighner, ICD-10) are made based on examination of medical records and direct assessment using the Semi-Structured Assessment for Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA). Nuclear and extended pedigrees containing at least two alcohol-dependent first-degree relatives in addition to an alcohol dependent proband (with all affected individuals meeting both DSM-IIIR and Feighner criteria) have been ascertained.

"Clinical data," designating anonymous data on family structure, age, sex, vital status, psychopathology, diagnosis, other clinically relevant information, are stored, maintained, and distributed by Washington University. "Research data," consist of data on blood biochemistry and psychological test performance, which are stored, maintained, and distributed by Washington University, and brain electrophysiological data, which are stored, maintained, and distributed by SUNY. "Genetic analysis data," consisting of marker genotypes, along with results of previous genetic analyses of COGA data, are stored, maintained, and distributed by Washington University. "Biomaterials," consisting of lymphoblastoid cell lines and DNA from participating subjects are stored, maintained, and distributed by Rutgers University. The following table lists important descriptive information for currently available alcoholic pedigrees. For important descriptive information on currently available alcoholic pedigrees, see the Pedigree Descriptive Table.

After access certification, the principal investigator will be given access to electronic data files and other documentation. Requests for biomaterials should be made within 4 months of notification of access certification (unless the principal investigator requests an extension of this time limit in writing from NIAAA), and should clearly specify (by COGA ID number) each subject for which a DNA sample or cell line is desired. Request for biomaterials should be sent to:

Copies of each request should also be sent to Dr. Antonio Noronha at NIAAA (address given above) and to: