How alcohol affects cocaine use in monkeys
Official title: The effect of ethanol self-administration on cocaine reinforcement in male and female monkeys
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11059594 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how drinking alcohol might make cocaine more addictive in male and female monkeys, helping us understand why some people with cocaine use problems also drink, and what this could mean for better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $48,974 |
| NIH project number | 5F31DA060614-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11059594 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a history of cocaine use disorder who also consume alcohol.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of substance use disorders or who only use cocaine or alcohol in isolation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between alcohol consumption and cocaine reinforcement in male and female monkeys. By using animal models, the study aims to understand how ethanol may enhance the effects of cocaine, potentially leading to more severe addiction and poorer treatment outcomes. The research will explore the mechanisms behind the co-use of these substances, which is common among individuals with cocaine use disorder. The findings could help bridge the gap between preclinical and clinical research on substance use disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for individuals struggling with cocaine use disorder, particularly those who also consume alcohol.
How similar studies have gone: While the co-use of alcohol and cocaine has been documented, this specific approach to understanding their interaction in a controlled setting is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Allen, Mia Isabel — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Allen, Mia Isabel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
An integrated mobile health program to reduce SAVA and mental health problems among female sex workers in Kenya
A new mobile health program aims to help female sex workers in Kenya avoid substance abuse, violence, HIV, and depression by delivering group therapy, online resources, and a peer discussion space.
-
HIV in Women: How the virus hides and the immune system changes across life stages
This project looks at how HIV behaves differently in people from puberty through menopause, focusing on how hormones like estrogen may affect HIV persistence and immune responses.
-
Mobile health support to boost PrEP and contraception use among young women in Zambia
A mobile health program helps female university students in Zambia learn about and access HIV prevention and contraception.
-
Computational modeling of female hormone balance and drug responses
A new computational model uses patient-like data to predict how metabolic drugs will work in women across their hormonal cycles and different reproductive stages.
-
How PrEP Drugs Affect HIV Risk in Women and Reproductive Health
This project looks at how PrEP medicines work for women, and whether they influence pregnancy-related processes in the uterus.
-
How female eggs throw away most chromosomes during meiosis
A scientist at UC Davis is studying why only a quarter of chromosomes go into the egg during female reproductive cell division and how errors in this process can cause miscarriage or birth defects.
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.