Brain pathways that make people seek or resist heroin
Prefrontal circuits controlling heroin seeking
Researchers are using animal models to learn how two prefrontal brain circuits either push people toward heroin or help them resist it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11309590 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, this work uses rat models to map two parts of the prefrontal cortex that have opposite effects on heroin seeking. Scientists will manipulate those circuits with targeted tools (like DREADDs) and watch behaviors such as choosing heroin over a non-drug reward and relapse when exposed to drug cues. They will also study downstream targets, including lateral hypothalamus orexin neurons, and count changes in those cells after repeated opioid exposure. The goal is to connect circuit activity and cellular biomarkers with addictive behaviors so future treatments can target them.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with opioid use disorder, especially those who struggle with relapse or who tend to choose heroin over non-drug rewards, would be the eventual candidates for therapies informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate clinical care or whose addiction is primarily driven by social or non-neural factors may not see direct benefit from this preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to brain biomarkers and new targets for treatments that reduce relapse and the tendency to choose heroin over other rewards.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies manipulating prefrontal circuits and orexin systems have changed drug-seeking behavior, but translating these findings into effective human treatments is still largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peters, Jamie — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Peters, Jamie
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.