Estrogen’s quick signals and binge drinking in female mice
Official title: The role of rapid estrogen signaling in alcohol drinking behavior
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11395371 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in female mice explores how fast, membrane-based estrogen signals influence brain circuits to drive binge alcohol drinking, with the goal of finding new ways to reduce excessive alcohol use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $649,232 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA027645-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395371 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Healthy volunteers are not the focus; the study involves animal models to understand mechanisms relevant to human alcohol use disorders.
✕Less likely to help
No direct benefit to patients at this stage since the work is preclinical in animals.
What this research studies
This project looks at how estrogen acts quickly on brain cells to influence binge drinking in female mice. Researchers will examine specific brain circuits and receptor pathways that respond to estrogen and how they affect neurotransmitter release and neuron activity related to alcohol intake. By using intact female mice, they aim to map how rapid estrogen signaling changes neural function to promote drinking behavior. The findings could point to new pharmacological strategies to help curb excessive alcohol consumption in women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that reduce binge drinking, especially in women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows rapid estrogen signaling can influence alcohol-related behaviors in mice, supporting the potential relevance of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pleil, Kristen Elizabeth — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Pleil, Kristen Elizabeth
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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.