Genetics of Alcoholism
The Home Page of the Human Genetics Research Group at:
The Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center 
Department of Neurology 
University of California, San Francisco
This web site will provide opportunities for participation in our studies and 
current information about our research.
Participation in our studies
We are seeking very heavy drinkers or alcoholics, either still drinking or in 
recovery, without a primary addiction to another substance to participate in a 
genetic study on alcoholism.
The study entails a blood draw, an interview about alcohol and drug use, and 
some personality tests. It takes about 3 hours. In order to participate, you 
must be willing to provide your relatives names and addresses so that the 
researchers can contact them to ask them to be in the study.
The interview can take place at San Francisco General Hospital, at your home (if 
you live in the Bay Area), or by telephone and mail (if you live elsewhere). 
There is no direct benefit to you, but we hope that there will eventually be 
societal benefit. Discovery of a genetic marker for alcoholism may be extremely 
useful in understanding, preventing, and treating alcoholism. Participants are 
compensated with $30.00 cash immediately following the study session.
Interested in participating?
Need more information?
Contact Dr. Kirk Wilhelmsen at: kirk@wildtype.ucsf.edu or Cassi Vieten at: 
cassi@itsa.ucsf.edu
or call toll-free (888)-805-UCSF(8273) for more information.
Information about our research
Dr's. Kirk Wilhelmsen, Ivan Diamond and their colleagues at the Ernest Gallo 
Clinic and Research Center, a division of the Department of Neurology at UCSF, 
are currently conducting a genetic study on alcohol consumption.
The primary aim of this study is to identify genetic loci that affect patterns 
of alcohol consumption. In this study, we will collect DNA samples and 
information from families affected by alcoholism. We will use these samples to 
attempt to find a genetic marker or markers for alcoholism. We will also collect 
data about individuals' medical history, and alcohol and drug use history, and 
personality. The personality data will be used to investigate the interaction of 
personality, genetics, and alcoholism.
The best data available suggest that an individual's pattern of alcohol 
consumption is strongly influenced by genetic factors. This is based on both 
twin studies and family aggregation studies. It is our premise that the only way 
to conclusively demonstrate that there are genetic factors involved in the 
etiology of alcoholism is to map these genetic factors to discrete chromosome 
locations. We believe that identification of these loci will greatly improve the 
understanding, prevention, and treatment of alcoholism.



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