Gut bacteria and how they influence alcohol seeking and decisions
Official title: The role of the gut microbiota in alcohol seeking and decision-making
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11404984 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether the bacteria living in the gut affect how people or animals seek alcohol and make decisions about drinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $240,572 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AA029454-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404984 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with alcohol use concerns in future translational steps or related patient populations who might contribute samples or participate in follow-on studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without alcohol use concerns or those unlikely to participate in microbiome-related research may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study mice to see if altering gut microbes changes how much alcohol they seek and how they decide to drink. They will use prebiotics to shift the gut bacteria and fecal transplants from prebiotic-treated donors to test cause-and-effect. The findings could reveal gut-related targets for reducing problematic drinking and improving related behaviors. The work focuses on how the gut–brain axis may shape reward processing in the context of alcohol use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to gut microbiome-based strategies to reduce alcohol craving and harmful drinking behaviors.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies in animals suggest the gut microbiome can influence alcohol-related behaviors, supporting a promising but still emerging approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thompson, Summer Loretta — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Thompson, Summer Loretta
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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.