Finding new treatments to help people quit smoking
Official title: Discovery and development of GPR3 agonists for nicotine cessation
Funded at Research Triangle Institute · NIH-10934370 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a certain brain receptor called GPR3 influences the way nicotine affects us, with the goal of finding new treatments to help people quit smoking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Triangle Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Research Triangle Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $866,733 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA058493-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10934370 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are struggling with nicotine addiction and are looking for new ways to quit smoking.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not nicotine users or those who have successfully quit smoking may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of a specific receptor, GPR3, in how nicotine affects the brain, particularly in terms of addiction and aversion. The team will screen a large number of compounds to identify potential GPR3 agonists that could help in nicotine cessation. By understanding how these compounds work, the researchers aim to develop new therapies that could improve the success rates of quitting smoking. The project combines advanced screening techniques and biological assays to find effective solutions for tobacco addiction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for individuals trying to quit smoking, potentially increasing cessation success rates.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting GPR3 for nicotine cessation is relatively novel, similar research has shown promise in identifying new therapeutic targets for addiction treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Triangle Institute
Research Triangle Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gay, Elaine Arrington — Research Triangle Institute
- Study coordinator: Gay, Elaine Arrington
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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.