Brain circuit changes that drive opioid craving and relapse
Thalamostriatal Circuitry in Opioid Seeking
Researchers are tracking specific brain cells to learn why cues trigger heroin seeking in people with opioid use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294267 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses mice to model opioid use and relapse so researchers can watch the same brain cells over time as heroin use, extinction, and relapse happen. The team uses two-photon calcium imaging to record activity from precisely defined thalamic neurons that connect to the nucleus accumbens, and they follow those neurons across the course of drug-taking and cue-induced relapse. They also use optogenetics to mimic the changes they see and test whether artificially inhibiting this circuit causes heroin-seeking behavior. The goal is to link specific, time-varying changes in a thalamostriatal circuit to cue-triggered opioid seeking.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to people with opioid use disorder, especially those who experience strong cue-triggered cravings or repeated relapse.
Not a fit: People without opioid use disorder or those whose opioid problems are primarily from prescribed pain management rather than cue-driven compulsive use may not directly benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific brain circuit targets for new treatments that reduce cue-triggered opioid craving and lower relapse risk.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal circuit studies have linked brain pathways to drug seeking, but the longitudinal two-photon imaging of this thalamostriatal subcircuit across heroin use and relapse is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Otis, James M — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Otis, James M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.