REQUEST PROPOSALS FOR ACCESS TO A WHOLE GENOME ASSOCIATION SCANNING RESOURCE 
TO IDENTIFY DRUG ADDICTION LOCI

RELEASE DATE:  March 25, 2004
       
NOTICE:  NOT-DA-04-006 (see NOT-DA-04-007)

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
 (http://www.nida.nih.gov)

PURPOSE

The purpose of this announcement is to solicit applications from qualified 
investigators to use a NIDA-supported resource to conduct a genome wide 
association study for drug addiction vulnerability loci.  NIDA anticipates 
contracting a resource to conduct whole genome SNP association scanning by 
September 2004. This resource will use 1.5 million SNP markers evenly 
distributed throughout the genome as surrogates to identify differences in 
genomic sequences of pooled individuals.  The 1.5 million whole genome 
association study will identify the underlying genetic components involved in 
addiction by identifying those SNPs that have a significantly different 
frequency in drug addicted compared with the non-drug addicted individuals.  
Once individual SNPs are identified as being associated with addiction, a 
second screen of those particular SNPs will be performed by the resource on 
the individual DNA samples from the pools.  Once confirmed, a completely 
different set of DNA samples (addicted and non-addicted) will be used by the 
resource to replicate the findings and validate the association of the SNPs 
to addiction.  The successful applicant or group of collaborative 
investigators working together will be provided with a set of significantly 
associated SNPs following submission and analysis of DNA samples. 
Applications from a consortium of investigators working together are highly 
encouraged to maximize the usefulness of the resource and to obtain an 
appropriate sample set and sample size for the study.  

NIDA requests that qualified applicants submit proposals by July 1, 2004 
describing an appropriate study design for accessing this whole genome SNP   
association scanning resource.  Highly dense genome-SNP association scanning 
is a powerful method to detect association of genetic loci with a complex 
phenotype such as addiction.  Success of this project relies on two key 
factors: (1) a high-density SNP array to perform linkage disequilibrium 
analyses, and (2) a large number of well-characterized DNA samples and their 
associated phenotypic definitions from drug addicted and non-drug addicted 
individuals. 

To qualify for this solicitation, applicants must be or previously have been 
NIDA Genetics Consortium (NGC) members, or become members of the NGC on or 
before July 1, 2004. To learn more about becoming a member of the NGC, please 
refer to: 
http://www.drugabuse.gov/about/organization/genetics/FAQ_GeneticStudies.html

For more information concerning this initiative including application 
procedures and review criteria refer to: 
http://www.drugabuse.gov/about/organization/genetics/SNP.html

INQUIRIES 

Inquiries concerning this notice are strongly encouraged.  The opportunity to 
clarify any issues or questions from potential applicants is welcome.

Direct programmatic inquiries to:

Joni Rutter, Ph.D.
Genetics and Molecular Neurobiology Research Branch 
Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4S-4282, MSC 9555
Bethesda, MD  20892-9555
Telephone: (301) 443-6300
Email:  jrutter@mail.nih.gov

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