Different versions of the dopamine D3 receptor and cocaine use
Drd3 transcript variants and cocaine self-administration
Looking at whether different forms of a brain receptor called D3 change cocaine-seeking behavior to help people with cocaine use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178362 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine several naturally occurring versions of the D3 dopamine receptor found in brain reward areas. They will confirm how each version works in cells and build virus-based tools (AAV) to turn these variants on in specific neuron types. Using rats that self-administer cocaine, they will compare how male and female animals respond when particular D3 variants are expressed. The work aims to link specific receptor forms to sex differences in cocaine taking and seeking.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cocaine use disorder, including both men and women, are the group that could eventually benefit from these findings.
Not a fit: People without cocaine problems or those needing immediate clinical care are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this animal-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific receptor targets for new medicines to reduce cocaine craving or relapse.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked the D3 receptor to addiction and some preclinical D3-targeting drugs showed promise, but studying individual transcript variants is largely new.
Where this research is happening
Winston-Salem, United States
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences — Winston-Salem, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Rong — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Chen, Rong
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.