How a specific brain area may drive compulsive opioid use
Dissecting ventral pallidal plasticity in punishment-resistant opioid self-administration
This project looks at how changes in a brain region called the ventral pallidum might make some people more likely to keep using opioids despite harmful consequences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11306631 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use a rodent model that mimics compulsive opioid use to study why some individuals continue taking opioids even when faced with punishment. They compare animals that stop when drug use is punished with those that persist, and record and manipulate activity in specific ventral pallidum cell types. Methods include targeted cell manipulations and neural activity measurements to reveal which cells and connections drive punishment-resistant opioid seeking. Findings aim to point to brain circuit mechanisms that could guide future treatments for compulsive opioid use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with opioid use disorder or a history of compulsive opioid use would most benefit from the findings and could be candidates for future clinical trials based on this work.
Not a fit: People who use short-term opioids for acute pain without signs of compulsive use are unlikely to see direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new brain targets for treatments that help people stop compulsive opioid use.
How similar studies have performed: Animal research has previously linked the ventral pallidum to reward and addiction, but applying cell-type-specific tools to a punishment-resistant opioid model is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Creed, Meaghan C — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Creed, Meaghan C
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 below.