How alcohol disrupts stress‑controlling brain cells
Probing Ethanol Dysregulation of Hypothalamic CRH neurons
This project looks at how alcohol changes specific stress‑controlling brain cells to better understand withdrawal and long‑term effects in people with alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11469894 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, researchers will examine corticotropin‑releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in a deep brain area that controls stress responses to see how acute drinking, chronic alcohol use, and withdrawal change their activity. They will use lab experiments that record neuron activity, measure stress hormones, and study related behaviors in experimental models that mimic drinking and abstinence. The team will compare how these cells and hormone responses differ during early withdrawal versus prolonged abstinence to connect brain changes with symptoms people experience. Findings aim to link neuron‑level changes to the stress, craving, and defensive behaviors that can drive relapse.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with current or recent alcohol use disorder, especially those experiencing withdrawal symptoms or prolonged abstinence.
Not a fit: People without alcohol use disorder or whose problems are unrelated to stress‑system changes are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets to reduce withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse by restoring normal stress‑system function.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown HPA axis and CRH system changes in alcohol use disorder, so this work builds on established findings while applying more detailed neuron‑level methods.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kash, Thomas L. — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Kash, Thomas L.
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.