Gene activity in the habenula of people with opioid addiction and depression
Official title: Regulation of Gene Expression in the Human Habenula in Comorbid Opioid Addiction and Depression
Funded at Lieber Institute, INC. · NIH-11322100 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at which genes are active in a small brain region called the habenula to learn how it differs in people with opioid addiction, major depression, or both.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lieber Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $680,018 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA055823-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322100 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with a history of opioid addiction, major depressive disorder, or both, and individuals who are willing to donate brain tissue for research after death.
✕Less likely to help
People without opioid addiction or depression or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this mapping work.
What this research studies
This project will create detailed maps showing which genes are active in each cell and exact spots within the human habenula using advanced single-cell and spatial gene technologies on donated brain tissue. It will compare samples from people who had opioid addiction, major depression, both conditions, and people without these disorders to spot cell types and areas with differences. The team will link those differences to genetic and epigenetic signals that affect serotonin and dopamine systems tied to mood and reward. From your perspective, these maps aim to point researchers toward specific targets for future treatments or tests for people with co-occurring addiction and depression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal specific cell types and genes to target for new treatments or diagnostics for people with opioid addiction and depression.
How similar studies have gone: Single-cell and spatial mapping methods have produced useful disease-linked maps in other brain regions, but applying them to the human habenula in comorbid opioid addiction and depression is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Lieber Institute, INC.
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maynard, Kristen Rose — Lieber Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Maynard, Kristen Rose
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This study is looking at how certain genes in a part of the brain called the habenula, which helps control our mood and motivation, might be linked to opioid addiction and depression, with the goal of finding better ways to treat these issues.
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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.