Abstract: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains one of the world’s biggest health challenges, affecting over 400 million people globally and contributing to 2.6 million deaths each year. Yet, treatment options remain limited, with only three FDA-approved drugs showing modest success. One of the key roadblocks in advancing therapies has been the lack of reliable biological repositories that capture the complexity of AUD. To bridge this gap, scientists have launched the Alcohol Biobank, a comprehensive resource built on over 700 genetically diverse rats. Using sophisticated models like chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure combined with oral self-administration, the biobank captures a wide range of AUD-like behaviors, consumption, dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and even anxiety-related traits.
What makes the Alcohol Biobank remarkable is both its scale and accessibility. Researchers can access longitudinal blood, urine, and fecal samples, as well as organ tissues like brain, heart, and liver, collected at critical stages of intoxication, withdrawal, and abstinence. These specimens are preserved for advanced studies in genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, and neuroanatomy. Complementary genetic and behavioral data are also available in public repositories, creating a powerful platform for collaborative discovery and exploration. This initiative opens the door for researchers worldwide, even those outside addiction science, to identify biomarkers and develop novel, effective treatments for AUD. With its FAIR-access approach, the Alcohol Biobank stands as a milestone in addiction research, designed to accelerate innovation and improve lives.
Get the detailed news here: A Preclinical Alcohol Biobank: Samples from Behaviorally Characterized HS Rats for AUD Research | eNeuro
