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Arpana Agrawal, PhD
Current
Position
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
University Roles
Instructor: Psychology 345, Human Linkage and Association, MPE III
Education and Training
Ph.D. Human Genetics (Quantitative)
Areas of Research Interests
My research focuses on the genetic and environmental underpinnings of substance-related behaviors, especially those related to cannabis (marijuana) use and misuse. I am currently funded by NIDA to conduct data analyses using data on monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs to understand the sources of variation in co-occurring cannabis and tobacco use. I am also supported by the Alcoholic Beverages Medical Research Foundation to genotype candidate genes that are potentially associated with variation in alcohol consumption and to conduct measured genotype-environment interaction studies. Recently, I received ARRA-supported funds via NIDA to examine the correlates of transitions in cannabis involvement in a large US dataset (NESARC). My other interests include assessment of the psychometric properties of substance-related scales, genomic linkage/association/epistasis studies and defining the environment as it applies to substance-related behaviors.
My CV and biosketch are available at:
http://arpanascience.googlepages.com
Key Publications
Agrawal A, Lynskey MT (2007 May 11). Does gender contribute to heterogeneity in criteria for cannabis abuse and dependence? Results from the national epidemiological survey on alcohol and related conditions. Drug Alcohol Depend. 88(2-3): 300-7. Full Article ->
Agrawal A, Lynskey MT, Bucholz KK, Martin NG, Madden PA, Heath AC (2007 Jan). Contrasting models of genetic co-morbidity for cannabis and other illicit drugs in adult Australian twins. Psychol Med. 37(1): 49-60. Full Article ->
Agrawal A, Lynskey MT (2006 Jun). The genetic epidemiology of cannabis use, abuse and dependence. Addiction. 101(6): 801-12. Full Article ->
Agrawal A, Hinrichs AL, Dunn G, Bertelsen S, Dick DM, Saccone SF, Saccone NL, Grucza RA, Wang JC, Cloninger CR, Edenberg HJ, Foroud T, Hesselbrock V, Kramer J, Bucholz KK, Kuperman S, Nurnberger JI Jr, Porjesz B, Schuckit MA, Goate AM, Bierut LJ (2008 Jan 11). Linkage scan for quantitative traits identifies new regions of interest for substance dependence in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) sample. Drug Alcohol Depend. 93(1-2): 12-20. Full Article ->
Dick DM, Agrawal A, Schuckit MA, Bierut L, Hinrichs A, Fox L, Mullaney J, Cloninger CR, Hesselbrock V, Nurnberger JI Jr, Almasy L, Foroud T, Porjesz B, Edenberg H, Begleiter H (2006 Mar). Marital status, alcohol dependence, and GABRA2: evidence for gene-environment correlation and interaction. J Stud Alcohol. 67(2): 185-94. Full Article ->
Agrawal A, Neale MC, Prescott CA, Kendler KS (2004 Oct). A twin study of early cannabis use and subsequent use and abuse/dependence of other illicit drugs. Psychol Med. 34(7): 1227-37. Full Article ->
Funded Research Projects
NIDA(PI):Cannabis and Tobacco Involvement: A Twin Study
ABMRF(PI):Gene x Environment Influences on Quantitative Indices of Alcohol Consumption
NIDA(Key Personnel):The Genetics of Vulnerability to Nicotine Addictions
NIDA(Key Personnel):Cannabis Use, Abuse and Dependence: Exploring Phenotypes
NIDA(PI):Characterizing the 3-year Course of Cannabis Involvement in NESARC
NIDA(PI):Cannabis and Tobacco Involvement: A Twin Study (Supplement)