Gut bacteria and the gut–brain connection in people who use cocaine
Official title: Investigating microbiota of the gut-brain axis and the impact of cocaine
Funded at Alabama State University · NIH-11146445 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how cocaine use changes gut bacteria and the gut–brain connection, with attention to communities hardest hit by addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Alabama State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Montgomery, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $123,404 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM149358-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11146445 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with a history of cocaine use (and comparison participants without cocaine exposure), particularly from communities disproportionately affected such as African American adults, would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without any history of cocaine or whose health issues are unrelated to gut microbiota likely would not receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project will compare microbial patterns in gut tissues (like the transverse colon and distal ileum) and in brain and stress-related tissues (such as the basal ganglia, pituitary, and adrenal glands) that may be affected by cocaine. Scientists will analyze which groups of bacteria (for example, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes) become more or less common with prolonged cocaine use. The team aims to find microbial signatures linked to overdose risk, emotional changes, or stress-response alterations. The work emphasizes populations disproportionately affected by cocaine, including African American adults, to improve relevance and equity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to microbial biomarkers or microbiome-targeted approaches that help predict overdose risk or guide new treatments to reduce cravings and emotional problems tied to cocaine use.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that drug use can shift gut bacterial groups, but using combined gut and brain-tissue microbial signatures as biomarkers for overdose or affective changes is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Alabama State University
Montgomery, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Javan, Gulnaz — Alabama State University
- Study coordinator: Javan, Gulnaz
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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.