How fast-acting estrogen signals influence binge drinking in females
Official title: The role of rapid estrogen signaling in alcohol drinking behavior
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11184440 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether quick estrogen signals in the brain change binge drinking, especially in females.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $655,347 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA027645-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184440 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This is preclinical laboratory research using female mice, so no patients are being enrolled in the project.
✕Less likely to help
People should not expect direct clinical benefit from this animal-focused research, which aims to inform future therapies rather than provide immediate treatment.
What this research studies
Researchers are using female mice to study how rapid, membrane-associated estrogen signaling in limbic brain circuits affects binge alcohol drinking. They will measure changes in neurotransmitter release and neuron excitability and map which circuits and receptors are involved. The team will manipulate these signaling pathways to see how that changes alcohol consumption behavior. Findings are meant to point toward molecular targets that could be tested later for reducing excessive drinking in women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new drug targets to help reduce excessive alcohol use in women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have shown that estrogen influences alcohol drinking, but targeting rapid membrane-associated estrogen signaling in specific circuits is a newer, less-tested approach.
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
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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.