This paper expands the RatGTEx resource with transcriptome-wide associations across 3,160 RNA-seq samples, identifying 7,473 gene-trait links and 144,876 QTLs for 22,599 genes.

bioRxiv · Nov 6, 2026 · PreprintGenetics

Genomic SEM reveals shared genetic architecture and expands locus discovery for locomotor activity in heterogeneous stock rats

Apurva S. Chitre, Thiago Missfeldt Sanches, Gavrila Ang, Nana K. Amissah, Rodolfo Avila, Hannah V. Bimschleger, Paola Campo, Nazzareno Cannella, Denghui Chen, Riyan Cheng, Katarina A Cohen, Ayteria D. Crow, Eric Dereschewitz, Michelle R. Doyle, Maya Eid, , Abraham A. Palmer

The paper uses Genomic SEM to identify loci underlying locomotor activity in rats, finding 31 loci compared to fewer from other methods.

bioRxiv · Oct 6, 2026 · PreprintGenetics

Point mutations and complex variants impact gene expression and addiction-related behaviors in Heterogeneous Stock rats

Denghui Chen, Katarina A Cohen, Khai‐Minh Nguyen, Helyaneh Ziaei Jam, Ryan J. Eveloff, Yizhi Wang, James Guevara, Thiago Missfeldt Sanches, Milad Mortazavi, Daniel B. Munro, Oksana Polesskaya, Jonathan L. Sebat, Melissa Gymrek, Abraham A. Palmer

The paper identifies non-SNP variants as significant regulators of gene expression and addiction-related traits in HS rats using joint cis-eQTL analysis.

bioRxiv · Sep 16, 2026 · PreprintGenetics

Genome-wide association study in Heterogeneous Stock rats identifies genetic loci associated with aversion-based learning and cocaine aversion

Zachary Tatom, Maya Eid, Thiago Missfeldt Sanches, Apurva S. Chitre, Gavrila Ang, Kendra S Ziegler, Beverly F Peng, Elaine Keung, Khai‐Minh Nguyen, Katarina A Cohen, Yizhi Wang, Riyan Cheng, Denghui Chen, Benjamin B. Johnson, Oksana Polesskaya, , Abraham A. Palmer

bioRxiv · Aug 8, 2026 · PreprintGenetics

Genetic Architecture of Addiction-Relevant Behaviors in Outbred Sprague-Dawley Rats Reveals Loci for Anxiety-Like and Nociceptive Traits

Apurva S. Chitre, Elaine K. Hebda‐Bauer, Michael A. Emery, Fei Li, Khai-Minh Nguyen, Yizhi Wang, Riyan Cheng, Oksana Polesskaya, Stanley J. Watson, Jun Z. Li, Huda Akil, Abraham A. Palmer

The paper identifies genetic loci associated with anxiety-like and nociceptive traits in outbred Sprague-Dawley rats using genome-wide association analysis.

Genes Brain & Behavior · May 18, 2026Peer-reviewedGenetics