NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Anterior cingulate changes with prenatal and adolescent alcohol exposure

Official title: Anterior Cingulate Dysfunction in a PAE-AIE Combined Model During Protracted Abstinence

Funded at State University of Ny,binghamton · NIH-11416542 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This grant studies how alcohol exposure before birth and during adolescence may alter brain circuits related to addiction and pain, aiming to understand why some youths develop problematic drinking and anxiety later.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionState University of Ny,binghamton
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Binghamton, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2009
Project endAugust 31, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$263,967
NIH project number5P50AA017823-18
Project IDNIH-11416542 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are individuals or populations at risk for or affected by prenatal alcohol exposure or adolescent alcohol use and associated anxiety or pain symptoms, particularly in settings studying developmental neuroscience.

Less likely to help

Direct benefits may be limited for individuals without exposure history or youth not in the targeted developmental windows; results may primarily advance preclinical knowledge.

What this research studies

This project examines how alcohol exposure in two critical developmental windows—before birth and during adolescence—affects the anterior cingulate cortex and its connections to addiction and pain pathways. Researchers investigate changes in dopamine and glutamate signaling, and how these alterations influence behavior such as anxiety and pain perception. The work uses animal models to compare effects of prenatal exposure, adolescent exposure, and the combined exposure, with attention to sex and age of exposure. Findings could inform strategies to prevent early-onset problem drinking and improve treatments for co-occurring anxiety and pain conditions.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Better understanding of how early alcohol exposure reshapes brain circuits could lead to targeted prevention and treatment approaches for youth at risk of early, problematic drinking and related mood or pain problems.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that early alcohol exposure alters brain circuits and behavior in models, supporting potential translational relevance of this approach.

Where this research is happening

  • State University of Ny,binghamton
    Binghamton, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Diaz, Marvin Rafael — State University of Ny,binghamton
  • Study coordinator: Diaz, Marvin Rafael

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.