Cortical-noradrenaline signals in alcohol-driven actions
Official title: Cortical-noradrenaline signaling in alcohol behavioral engagement
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11550517 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how brain signals related to arousal and attention influence people’s (animal models) alcohol-seeking behavior after long-term drinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00AA030828-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11550517 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at risk for alcohol use disorder who might benefit from new brain-based intervention strategies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without alcohol-use concerns or where brain-based approaches are not applicable may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study brain activity in the ACC and anterior insula of animals performing an alcohol-reward task, using advanced neural probes to see how these regions coordinate attention, motivation, and action during drinking behavior. The work aims to map how cortical circuits and locus coeruleus signaling shape engaging with alcohol after extended exposure. Findings could reveal targets to help people reduce craving and maladaptive alcohol-directed actions. The project is conducted in a Mayo Clinic setting and focuses on neural mechanisms underlying alcohol use patterns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Results could identify brain processes to target for therapies that reduce compulsive alcohol-related actions and improve treatment options.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in animal models has linked locus coeruleus and cortical circuits to goal-directed behavior, with evolving evidence in alcohol contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Starski, Phillip a — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Starski, Phillip a
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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.