How estrogen affects alcohol drinking behavior in women
Official title: The role of rapid estrogen signaling in alcohol drinking behavior
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-10981991 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the hormone estrogen affects drinking habits in women who might be more likely to struggle with alcohol use, using female mice to learn more about how it works in the brain, with the hope of finding new ways to help women who drink too much.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $570,176 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AA027645-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10981991 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women who struggle with alcohol use or have a history of alcohol dependence.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not identify as female or those without issues related to alcohol consumption may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of the hormone estrogen in influencing alcohol consumption behaviors, particularly in women who are at a higher risk for alcohol use disorder. The study focuses on how estrogen interacts with brain circuits and receptors to affect drinking behavior, using female mice as a model. By understanding these mechanisms, the research aims to uncover potential new treatments for excessive alcohol consumption that could benefit women specifically.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for reducing alcohol consumption in women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that hormonal influences can affect alcohol consumption, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pleil, Kristen Elizabeth — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Pleil, Kristen Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Inhibitory Corticostriatal Circuits and Binge Drinking
This grant studies how specific brain circuits inhibit or promote binge drinking, with the goal of identifying targets to help people who struggle with alcohol use.
-
How X chromosome differences may influence alcohol drinking in mice
This project looks at how sex chromosomes, especially the X chromosome, might affect alcohol drinking behavior and related brain signals in mice, with the goal of informing human understanding and future therapies.
-
Estrogen’s quick signals and binge drinking in female mice
A study in female mice explores how fast, membrane-based estrogen signals influence brain circuits to drive binge alcohol drinking, with the goal of finding new ways to reduce excessive alcohol use.
-
Corticolimbic brain circuits and stress coping linked to alcohol use
This research looks at how brain circuits that control stress responses affect drinking behavior, with a focus on differences between males and females.
-
ADHD and adolescent drinking: how teen alcohol use affects thinking and behavior
A study with teens and young adults who have ADHD will look at how alcohol exposure during adolescence influences thinking, attention, and behavior.
-
Histone tweaks in brain cells linked to resilience against compulsive drinking
This NIH grant explores how changes in histone acetylation in specific brain cells may protect people from developing compulsive drinking behaviors.
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.