This allows COGA to study the effects of specific genetic/polygenic and phenotypic properties of neurons from COGA participants, providing missing links between the genetic, functional, and ultimately, behavioral studies. 57 Studies utilizing human neurons derived from COGA stem cells have identified altered neuronal activity associated with GWAS candidates, diagnostic data and frontal theta ERO endophenotypes. 56 Second, COGA has partnered with brain banks to generate single cell/nucleus RNAseq and ATACseq data on striatal brain regions critical to addiction development. Data generation has accompanied methodological innovation in approaches such as high throughput reporter assays which provide a convenient method for screening specific functional characteristics (e.g., binding site modifications) of large numbers of variants from GWAS (e.g., Reference 58).
