How GLP-1 medications change drinking and the way alcohol feels
Official title: Evaluation of GLP-1 receptor agonists on alcohol-related behaviors
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11241674 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether GLP-1 medicines (like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) lower drinking and change how alcohol feels for 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 start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | January 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $444,576 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AA032683-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11241674 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with alcohol use disorder or heavy drinking who are looking for new medication options would be the likely candidates for future clinical testing.
✕Less likely to help
People who are pregnant, have medical contraindications to GLP-1 medications, or whose drinking is driven mainly by social or environmental factors may not benefit from these drugs.
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of North Carolina will compare three GLP-1–related medications (semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide) using laboratory models to see effects on drinking, alcohol's subjective effects, and choices when other rewards are available. The team will run behavioral tests and measure brain activity in key networks (like the salience network) to understand how these drugs change alcohol-related behavior. Results from this preclinical pipeline will help pick the most promising medicines to move into human clinical trials. The ultimate aim is to translate these findings into better treatment options for people who drink heavily or have alcohol use disorder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify existing medications that reduce drinking and lead to new treatment options for alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies and anecdotal human reports suggest GLP-1 drugs can reduce alcohol intake, and semaglutide is already in clinical trials for AUD, but broad clinical evidence is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Besheer, Joyce — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Besheer, Joyce
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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.