Research Interests

I am an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.  I have a Bachelor's in Science (majors in Microbiology, Zoology and Chemistry) as well as concurrent diplomas in Creative English, Psychological Sciences and certificates in Entomology and Environmental Sciences. In 2004, I received my doctorate in Human Genetics (Quantitative) from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Richmond, VA. Under the mentorship of Dr. Kenneth Kendler, my dissertation research focused on applying twin methodology to disentangling the extent to which genetic and environmental factors influenced predisposition to cannabis (marijuana) and other illicit/illegal (e.g. cocaine, hallucinogens, non-prescription opioids, sedatives) use, abuse and dependence. I continued my research into the genetic epidemiology of cannabis-related behaviors during my postdoctoral training at Wash U. During my postdoc (2004-2006), I worked with Drs. Pam Madden and Andrew Heath on several genomic projects that aimed to identify regions along the human genome, and the role of specific genes (e.g. nicotinic receptors), that influence risk for nicotine dependence and alcoholism. Currently, I am supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to conduct twin research on why cannabis and tobacco are commonly co-used across the world and to examine the role of common genetic influences on these drugs. I also serve as Principal Investigator on a project, from the Alcoholic Beverages Medical Research Foundation (ABMRF), that aims to  identify genetic variants influencing risk for heavy alcohol consumption and to study their interactions with stressful  life events, especially those occurring during childhood and early adolescence. Recently, I was funded to examine changes (and their correlates) in cannabis involvement in a large, nationally representative sample of US adults (NESARC) - these funds are from NIDA (supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). I  also participate as a co-investigator/collaborator on several grants on the genetics of substance-related behaviors and led a phenotypic harmonization for alcohol-related measures on the GENEVA projects.

Publications

• Agrawal A, Lynskey MT (2007 May 11). Does gender contribute to heterogeneity in criteria for cannabis abuse and dependence? Results from the national epidemiological survey on alcohol and related conditions. Drug Alcohol Depend. 88(2-3): 300-7.  Full Article ->
• Agrawal A, Lynskey MT, Bucholz KK, Martin NG, Madden PA, Heath AC (2007 Jan). Contrasting models of genetic co-morbidity for cannabis and other illicit drugs in adult Australian twins. Psychol Med. 37(1): 49-60.  Full Article ->
• Agrawal A, Lynskey MT (2006 Jun). The genetic epidemiology of cannabis use, abuse and dependence. Addiction. 101(6): 801-12.  Full Article ->
• Agrawal A, Hinrichs AL, Dunn G, Bertelsen S, Dick DM, Saccone SF, Saccone NL, Grucza RA, Wang JC, Cloninger CR, Edenberg HJ, Foroud T, Hesselbrock V, Kramer J, Bucholz KK, Kuperman S, Nurnberger JI Jr, Porjesz B, Schuckit MA, Goate AM, Bierut LJ (2008 Jan 11). Linkage scan for quantitative traits identifies new regions of interest for substance dependence in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) sample. Drug Alcohol Depend. 93(1-2): 12-20.  Full Article ->
• Dick DM, Agrawal A, Schuckit MA, Bierut L, Hinrichs A, Fox L, Mullaney J, Cloninger CR, Hesselbrock V, Nurnberger JI Jr, Almasy L, Foroud T, Porjesz B, Edenberg H, Begleiter H (2006 Mar). Marital status, alcohol dependence, and GABRA2: evidence for gene-environment correlation and interaction. J Stud Alcohol. 67(2): 185-94.  Full Article ->
• Agrawal A, Neale MC, Prescott CA, Kendler KS (2004 Oct). A twin study of early cannabis use and subsequent use and abuse/dependence of other illicit drugs. Psychol Med. 34(7): 1227-37.  Full Article ->

Courses

• Psychology 345
• Human Linkage and Association 
• MPE III