Drd3 gene variants and cocaine seeking in rats
Official title: Drd3 transcript variants and cocaine self-administration
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11619073 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in rats will map different Drd3 gene variants to how cocaine-seeking and taking behavior is influenced, aiming to uncover targets for treating cocaine use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $339,041 |
| NIH project number | 4R33DA059919-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11619073 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with cocaine use disorder for future translation or trials related to Drd3-targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Current patients will not receive direct treatment from this preclinical study, but findings may inform future therapies.
What this research studies
This project will explore how different forms of the dopamine D3 receptor gene (Drd3) affect cocaine-related behaviors in rat brains. Researchers will first use cell systems to understand what each Drd3 variant does, then create neuron-specific tools to express these variants in rats. In the later phase, they will test whether sex and brain region differences in these variants change cocaine seeking and taking, using targeted delivery methods. The work could identify specific receptor variants as future drug targets for cocaine use disorder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide development of more precise therapies for cocaine use disorder by targeting Drd3 variants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work links D3 receptor pathways to cocaine behaviors, and this study extends knowledge with variant-specific tools.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Rong — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Chen, Rong
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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.