Decades of intensive research involving international collaborative networks utilizing large databases and tissue banks and advanced genetic technology and bioinformatics have led to significant discoveries in recognition of genetic variants and biomarkers implicated in the causation and course of alcoholism. Improved commercial platforms available for alcoholism research with potential application in the clinical setting have permitted the identification and characterization of the molecular signatures for novel or disturbed gene or exon expression and disease-specific profiles and patterns of interconnected disturbed gene pathways for alcoholism and other psychiatric or aberrant behavioral disorders in a growing body of genetic data and evidence. Significant discoveries have been made using microarray technology and now next generation sequencing with readily available tissue such as peripheral blood, autopsy specimens, established lymphoblastoid cell lines and/or saliva hold promise for more advances in alcoholism biomarker research by enabling the identification of new, clinically relevant genes impacting causation and disease mechanisms stimulating discovery of treatment modalities.
