Gene networks behind alcohol tolerance in fruit flies
Official title: Gene Network Analysis of Presynaptic Alcohol Tolerance in Drosophila
Funded at University of Mississippi · NIH-11435652 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A short, patient-friendly look at how brain signaling related to alcohol tolerance might be reversed or treated.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Mississippi NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $219,812 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AA033403-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11435652 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with alcohol use disorder seeking better treatment options in the future, once therapies are developed from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without alcohol use disorder are unlikely to benefit directly from these findings.
What this research studies
This project studies how chronic alcohol tolerance develops at the level of brain signaling in fruit flies, with the goal of finding new ways to reduce withdrawal and relapse. Researchers will explore how a presynaptic protein called Dunc13 is involved in tolerance and how disrupting its function might reverse the tolerance state. The work uses genetic and molecular methods to identify the gene network that maintains chronic tolerance and tests new ways to modify it. If successful, the findings could guide the development of therapies that help people struggling with alcohol dependence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new targets for therapies that lessen withdrawal and lower relapse risk for people with alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Past research in model organisms has linked presynaptic proteins like Dunc13 to alcohol-related behaviors, supporting this approach as plausible.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Mississippi
University, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roman, Gregg W — University of Mississippi
- Study coordinator: Roman, Gregg W
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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.