Genetic and brain factors behind how people respond to social isolation
Official title: Genetic and neuronal basis of behavioral variation in responses to social isolation
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11428380 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand why some individuals respond differently to social isolation by looking at genes and brain circuits.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $339,237 |
| NIH project number | 1R01GM167219-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11428380 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals experiencing social isolation or those at risk for isolation-related behavioral changes, across diverse populations.
✕Less likely to help
People without exposure to social isolation or without involvement in related behavioral research may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project will look at how environment and genetics shape how social isolation affects behavior and brain function. Researchers will use animal models and human data to map changes in gene regulation and neural circuits that accompany isolation experiences. The goal is to identify why some people become more aggressive or struggle with attention and memory when isolated, and how these effects vary across populations. The work builds on prior findings that social experiences can alter brain gene activity and circadian rhythms, and plans to test these mechanisms in detail across diverse groups.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new strategies to prevent or treat isolation-related mental health and cognitive problems.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that social experiences can reprogram brain gene expression and behavior, suggesting this approach has solid grounding though the specific variation in responses is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Volkan, Pelin C — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Volkan, Pelin C
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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.