WASHINGTON – Scientists from the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa are sharing a $5.85 million federal grant to research the molecular causes of drug addiction.
"Substance abuse and alcoholism are prime symptoms for many combat veterans still suffering from trauma," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "The Department of Veterans Affairs has been in the medical forefront for treatment and research concerning these debilitating addictions."
The grant was made by the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center, which is part of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. VA is sharing the five-year grant with the Roskamp Institute, a research facility in Sarasota, Fla.
Under the grant, scientists will purchase the latest technological devices for genetic research and protein analysis. Their goal is to study all 30,000 genes and their proteins to identify "markers" in the blood that indicate recent drug use. Later research will focus on identifying genetic factors that dispose people to addiction and on finding ways to disrupt the biochemical reactions involved in addiction.
The principal VA researchers working on the project are Dr. Patricia Ordorica, Dr. John Schinka and Dr. Michael Mullan.
The James A. Haley VA Medical Center is a 327-bed facility in Tampa providing primary medical care and many specialties in both an inpatient and outpatient setting. It is affiliated with the University of South Florida.
VA funded more than $600 million in medical research last year, with another $500 million in research grants from a variety of federal and private-sector agencies.
