Environmental enrichment helps reduce heroin cravings and relapse in rats
Official title: Environmental enrichment reverses heroin-caused neural and behavioral adaptations in rats
Funded at Queens College · NIH-10849982 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how making a rat's environment more interesting and stimulating can help stop them from going back to using heroin, and the goal is to find ways to improve treatment for people dealing with addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Queens College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Flushing, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $150,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R16GM153699-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10849982 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals struggling with heroin use disorder, particularly those who have experienced relapse triggers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not dealing with substance use disorders or those who have not previously used heroin may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how environmental enrichment (EE) can help prevent relapse in individuals with heroin use disorder by studying its effects on rats. The approach involves providing enriched environments to rats that have undergone heroin self-administration training, allowing researchers to observe changes in behavior and brain function. By understanding the neural mechanisms behind these changes, the research aims to improve treatment strategies for substance use disorders, potentially leading to better outcomes for patients struggling with addiction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for heroin addiction that promote long-term abstinence and reduce the risk of relapse.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results using environmental enrichment as a treatment for substance use disorders, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Queens College
Flushing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ranaldi, Robert — Queens College
- Study coordinator: Ranaldi, Robert
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.