Brain pathway that drives cocaine use
Novel Addiction Neurocircuits in Cocaine Taking
Researchers are mapping a brain pathway that could point to new medicines to help people with cocaine use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261118 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient's perspective, this project studies brain circuits that make people want to take cocaine by tracing connections between key reward areas and turning specific nerve cells on or off in lab models. The team focuses on a GABA pathway linking the dorsal raphe, nucleus accumbens, and ventral pallidum and will test whether the NMUR2 receptor changes cocaine-seeking behavior. Methods include measuring drug-seeking behavior, chemogenetic control of GABA neurons (DREADDs), and detailed neuron-tracing to map circuits. The long-term aim is to find druggable targets that could be developed into treatments to help people stay abstinent and avoid relapse.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with cocaine use disorder, especially those working to maintain abstinence or reduce relapse risk, would be the eventual candidates for treatments that come from this work.
Not a fit: People who do not use cocaine or whose problems are driven mainly by other substances or non-craving factors are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to medications that reduce craving and relapse for people with cocaine use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Circuit-based preclinical studies targeting GABA systems have shown promise, but targeting NMUR2 as a treatment approach is largely new and not yet tested in patients.
Where this research is happening
Galveston, United States
- University of Texas Med Br Galveston — Galveston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hommel, Jonathan Dean — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Hommel, Jonathan Dean
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.