dTMS treatment targeting brain networks to help adults with alcohol use disorder
Official title: Assessing the Impact of dTMS on Neural Targets Associated with Alcohol Use Disorder
Funded at Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research · NIH-11417162 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant tests whether deep transcranial magnetic stimulation can boost brain activity in key areas and reduce drinking in adults with alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $540,248 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA031552-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417162 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (18+) with alcohol use disorder who are willing to undergo multiple dTMS sessions and participate in brain imaging and follow-up assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not meet AUD criteria, cannot complete the 30-session protocol, or have contraindications to brain stimulation may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will enroll 100 adults with alcohol use disorder in a 2-arm, randomized, double-blind study comparing active dTMS to a sham condition. It aims to increase activation in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex within the salience network and track how this target engagement relates to drinking outcomes over time, including after 15 and 30 sessions and during follow-up. The researchers will use 20 Hz dTMS delivered to the medial prefrontal cortex and dACC with an H7 coil, measuring neural changes and clinically meaningful drinking data like days abstinent and heavy drinking days. The study will also explore factors that might predict who responds best to this neuromodulation approach. If successful, the findings could inform new, brain-based treatments to support relapse prevention in AUD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a new non-drug treatment to help people with AUD achieve more days without drinking and reduce relapse risk.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary and related neuromodulation studies suggest that targeting brain networks can influence drinking behavior, though this exact protocol is being tested for efficacy.
Where this research is happening
-
Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research
Palo Alto, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Padula, Claudia B. — Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research
- Study coordinator: Padula, Claudia B.
Related research
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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.