How binge drinking and brain support cells (astrocytes) influence each other
Official title: Project 1: The Reciprocal Relationship between Binge Drinking and Astrocytic Signaling
Funded at North Carolina Central University · NIH-11160501 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether changing signals in brain support cells called astrocytes can reduce heavy binge drinking and related memory problems in people at risk for alcohol dependence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina Central University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $192,976 |
| NIH project number | 5U54AA030451-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160501 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who engage in recurrent binge drinking or who are at risk of developing alcohol use disorder would be the most likely beneficiaries or future trial candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose alcohol problems are driven by social, psychological, or non-astrocytic biological causes may not benefit directly from astrocyte-targeted approaches.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are studying how heavy, binge-like alcohol use changes the behavior of astrocytes, a type of brain support cell, and whether those changes drive drinking and memory problems. In lab models they will look at inflammation and glutamate signaling in the hippocampus and compare males and females to see if responses differ by sex. The team uses targeted viral tools (astrocyte-specific DREADDs) to switch astrocyte signaling on or off in the hippocampus and then observes effects on drinking behavior and memory tasks. Altogether the work tests whether reversing harmful astrocyte and neuroimmune changes can lower excessive drinking and protect memory.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new biological targets to reduce binge drinking and prevent alcohol-related memory problems.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies link neuroimmune signals and glutamate to alcohol drinking and memory deficits, but directly switching astrocyte signaling with DREADD-based methods in alcohol models is a newer approach with limited prior application.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina Central University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marshall, Simon Alexander — North Carolina Central University
- Study coordinator: Marshall, Simon Alexander
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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.