How a brain protein affects nicotine receptors
Official title: Visinin-like protein-1 modulation of nicotinic receptors
Funded at University of Alaska Fairbanks · NIH-11172435 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether changing a brain protein can reduce nicotine-driven brain sensitivity in adults trying to quit smoking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alaska Fairbanks NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fairbanks, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $198,448 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM150455-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11172435 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) who currently smoke cigarettes and want help quitting would be the most relevant group.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not smoke or whose nicotine use is driven by unrelated factors are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If I'm trying to quit smoking, this project is looking at a brain protein called visinin-like protein-1 (VILIP-1) to see how it changes nicotine-sensitive receptors in the brain. The team will study how VILIP-1 affects the α4β2 nicotinic receptor forms that can make reward circuits overly sensitive after nicotine exposure, using laboratory experiments and likely human-derived samples. By understanding whether adjusting VILIP-1 can shift receptors back toward a less sensitive state, researchers hope to identify new biological targets to reduce cravings and relapse. This is early-stage, mechanism-focused work rather than a clinical test of a new drug in people right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new treatments that lower nicotine cravings and improve long-term quit rates.
How similar studies have gone: Medications that target nicotinic receptors (for example, varenicline) have helped many people quit, but modulating VILIP-1 is a newer, largely untested approach in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weltzin, Maegan M — University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Study coordinator: Weltzin, Maegan M
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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.