Glial gene signatures linked to opioid seeking
Official title: Identification and interrogation of glial gene signatures in volitional opioid seeking
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11421589 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project explores which glial cell changes are linked to the urge to seek opioids, with the goal of helping people who struggle with opioid addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $468,000 |
| NIH project number | 1DP1DA066476-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421589 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with opioid use disorder or those at risk of developing addiction could benefit from future therapies informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage preclinical work may not yet translate to immediate patient benefits for some participants.
What this research studies
This project focuses on glial cells in brain reward areas to understand how opioid use changes gene activity. Researchers plan to use advanced CRISPR-based methods to identify and manipulate glial gene signatures in living models, aiming to connect these changes to addictive behaviors. The work seeks to pinpoint specific transcriptional and epigenetic patterns that occur during persistent drug taking, with an emphasis on real-time targeting. By improving our understanding of glial roles beyond neurons, the study could uncover new avenues for therapies that address addiction biology directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new glial-targeted strategies for preventing relapse in opioid addiction.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests glial cells contribute to addiction, but this project aims for precise gene-level targets in glia.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tuscher, Jennifer J — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Tuscher, Jennifer J
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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.