Brain circuits that drive compulsive opioid use
Ventral Pallidum Circuits Underlying Preclinical Models of Opioid Addiction
This project looks at how specific brain circuits drive compulsive opioid use to help people with opioid use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261150 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use rodent models that mimic key features of addiction such as continued use despite harm, relapse, escalation, tolerance, and withdrawal. They manipulate neurons in the ventral pallidum and their connections to the ventral tegmental area to see how these circuits control motivated drug-seeking. The goal is to map the brain networks that cause compulsive opioid behaviors and point to targets for future treatments. Because the work is done in animals, it focuses on basic brain mechanisms rather than testing therapies in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people living with opioid use disorder who want better treatment options and could be candidates for clinical trials developed from these findings.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate help for opioid addiction or crisis care should not expect direct benefit from this laboratory-based animal research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new brain targets for medications or neuromodulation approaches to reduce compulsive opioid use and relapse.
How similar studies have performed: Related animal studies have identified brain pathways that control drug seeking and relapse, but so far these findings have rarely led directly to new approved treatments for opioid use disorder.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mahler, Stephen Vincent — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Mahler, Stephen Vincent
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.