Brain circuit that links memories and opioid craving
Dissecting the role of dorsal hippocampus to nucleus accumbens circuits in opioid seeking behavior
['FUNDING_R01'] · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11263675
This project looks at how a specific brain pathway causes cue-driven opioid cravings and relapse for people with opioid addiction.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11263675 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are mapping and manipulating a brain pathway from the dorsal hippocampus to the nucleus accumbens to understand how environmental cues trigger opioid craving and relapse. They will use laboratory methods such as chemogenetics and calcium imaging in animal models to observe how turning specific neurons on or off changes cue-induced opioid-seeking behaviors after abstinence. The team will measure neural activity, synaptic plasticity, and behavior during cue exposure and relapse-like tests. The goal is to identify mechanisms in this circuit that could be targeted to prevent future relapse.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with opioid use disorder who experience strong cue-triggered cravings or repeated relapse are the clinical group most likely to benefit from the findings.
Not a fit: People without opioid addiction or whose relapse is driven primarily by non-cue factors may not receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new brain-targeted approaches to reduce cue-driven opioid relapse.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies, including chemogenetic inhibition of dorsal hippocampus neurons, have reduced opioid-seeking behaviors, but translating those results into human treatments has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES
- WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY — SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MORON-CONCEPCION, JOSE A — WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: MORON-CONCEPCION, JOSE A
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.