How individual brain cells change with alcohol use
Single cell transcriptomic study of alcohol use
Researchers are reading gene activity in single brain cells from people with alcohol use disorder to find which cell types are affected.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138758 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one had alcohol use disorder (AUD), this project studies donated brain tissue after death to learn what changed in individual brain cells. They use single‑nucleus RNA sequencing to read gene activity cell by cell and compare people with AUD to those without. The team will link those gene activity differences to genetic elements that control them. That information aims to reveal which specific brain cell types and pathways are involved in AUD and point to future treatment targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with a history of alcohol use disorder who consent to brain donation (or whose families arrange donation) for post‑mortem research.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment, those without AUD, or individuals who cannot or will not participate in brain donation should not expect direct clinical benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal precise cell types and gene targets that lead to new medications or prevention strategies for AUD.
How similar studies have performed: Single‑cell and single‑nucleus RNA studies have successfully identified cell‑type changes in other brain disorders, but applying this approach specifically to AUD is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Den Oord, Edwin — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Van Den Oord, Edwin
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 below.