How diet affects drug preference and addiction behavior
Official title: Mechanisms of diet modulating experience-dependent amphetamine preference
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11053547 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how what we eat might affect addiction behaviors, especially with drugs like amphetamines, using fruit flies to help us understand how our gut and brain communicate about these substances, which could lead to better ways to help people with substance use issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $192,348 |
| NIH project number | 5K01DA058919-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11053547 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals struggling with substance use disorders, particularly those related to amphetamines.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of substance use or those not affected by amphetamines may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how dietary factors influence addiction behaviors, particularly in relation to amphetamines. By using fruit flies as a model organism, the study aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms of gut-brain communication that affect dopamine signaling and drug preference. The research will involve developing assays to measure how different diets impact the flies' responses to amphetamines, providing insights that could lead to new treatment strategies for substance use disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new dietary-based interventions for treating substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between diet and addiction behaviors, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Titos Vivancos, Iris — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Titos Vivancos, Iris
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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.