Cholinergic Signals in Striatal Brain Circuits and Alcohol Use
Official title: Cholinergic Modulation of Striatal Circuits in Alcohol Use Disorder
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-11367145 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how acetylcholine signaling in a key brain area may influence alcohol-seeking and drinking, with potential to guide new therapies for alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $635,002 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AA032498-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367145 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with alcohol use disorder or those at high risk who could participate in future translational studies or related assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without alcohol use concerns or without related brain chemistry involvement may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Alcohol Use Disorder is a major health concern, and this project looks at a different brain chemical—acetylcholine—to understand its role in alcohol-related behaviors. Researchers will study how chronic drinking changes cholinergic signaling in the dorsomedial striatum, a brain region important for decisions and rewards. They will focus on specialized neurons that control acetylcholine release and how their activity shapes dopamine and alcohol-seeking actions. The work combines neurophysiology and behavior to map how acetylcholine dynamics may promote or limit alcohol-taking. Overall, findings could identify new targets for treatments that reduce craving and intake.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new brain targets for medications to help people reduce or stop their alcohol use.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked cholinergic systems to reward and addiction, and these approaches have shown promise in animal models; this project extends those insights to alcohol-specific circuits.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Jun — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Wang, Jun
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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.