Hippocampal pathways linking early-life fear to later cocaine preference in teens and adults
Official title: Investigating Hippocampal Molecular Pathways Linking Early-Life Fear Conditioning to Later-Life Cocaine Conditioned Place Preference
Funded at Ponce School of Medicine · NIH-11406703 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how early-life fear experiences may shape brain pathways that influence later cocaine-related behavior in adolescents and adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ponce School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ponce, United States) |
| Project start | August 25, 1997 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $156,000 |
| NIH project number | 3U54MD007579-40S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406703 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adolescents and adults with interest or exposure related to stress, fear responses, and substance use risk, especially those connected to environments with limited resources.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with no exposure history to stress-related pathways or substance use risk may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
From a patient-facing view, researchers aim to uncover how memories of fear in youth might set the stage for how the brain responds to cocaine later on. The project uses animal and human-relevant models to map hippocampal pathways and relevant gene ARHGEF5 that could affect risk for substance-related outcomes. If successful, findings could guide future prevention and treatment approaches for teens and adults at risk of substance use disorders. The core goals are organized across research projects and support units to translate basic insights into improvements for communities with limited healthcare resources.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform better prevention and treatment strategies for substance use disorders in youth and adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in this area has shown that early-life experiences can influence later drug-related behaviors, but more work is needed to translate these findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Ponce School of Medicine
Ponce, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Noel, Richard J. — Ponce School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Noel, Richard 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.