How immune cells in the brain may influence opioid use and relapse
Official title: Mechanistic role of CNS penetrant T cells in opioid taking and seeking
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11449394 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher is studying how certain brain-immune cells (CD8+ T cells) might drive opioid taking and relapse, with the goal of finding non-opioid targets to help people with opioid use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $651,993 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA063642-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449394 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with opioid use disorder or those at risk of relapse could ultimately benefit from discoveries that translate to non-opioid therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People without opioid use disorder or those not involved in relapse pathways may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how immune cells that enter the brain could change brain circuits involved in reward and relapse to opioids. It uses advanced biology techniques to map the origin and behavior of these CD8+ T cells in both mice and humans with opioid use disorder. The team will study how these cells and the signals they release affect brain cells that control addictive behaviors, using brain slices and live recording in animals, and will test whether these cells are needed for learning to seek opioids. If successful, the work could reveal new non-opioid approaches to prevent relapse in OUD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to new non-opioid treatments that reduce relapse risk for people with opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in other neuropsychiatric diseases suggest immune cells can shape brain circuits, supporting potential relevance to OUD.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kiraly, Drew — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kiraly, Drew
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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.