Alcohol Use Behavioral Phenotyping Test for Global Populations (2025-2026)
This project team investigated whether the Alcohol Use Behavioral Phenotyping Test (AUBPT), a web-based assessment that uses behavioral tasks rather than self-reported alcohol use, can provide a culturally adaptable and scientifically robust way to assess risk for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The research addressed a growing global need for screening tools that can be effectively translated and implemented across diverse languages, cultures and health care settings.
In 2025-2026, the team advanced data collection, validation and analysis efforts across study sites in the United States, Brazil and Tanzania. Researchers collected behavioral and survey data, conducted focus groups and interviews to refine translations and cultural adaptations, and evaluated the feasibility of implementing AUBPT in clinical settings. Preliminary analyses found meaningful associations between AUBPT behavioral measures and established indicators of AUD severity, supporting the tool's potential validity.
The team's work helped move AUBPT from a fully developed digital platform toward an empirically validated global health tool. By identifying implementation challenges, refining culturally appropriate assessment methods and generating early evidence of effectiveness, the project strengthened the foundation for future large-scale studies and broader use of AUBPT in diverse communities worldwide.
Timing
Fall 2025 – Spring 2026
Team Outputs
Poster presentation (MaryAnn Black Distinguished Health Equity Symposium; Durham, N.C.; February 2026)
Screening for Alcohol Use Disorder through Games: Alcohol Use Behavioral Phenotyping Test (AUBPT) (Poster presentation at the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 15, 2026)
Completed data collections for the pilot study in Brazil
Completed data collection for the pilot study in Tanzania
Completed the quantitative data collection for the pilot study in Durham, N.C.
NHI R21 grant submissions
See related teams, Alcohol Use Behavioral Phenotyping Test for Global Populations (2024-2025) and Alcohol Use Behavioral Phenotyping Test for Global Populations (2026-2027).