How prefrontal brain cells drive drug cravings after quitting cocaine
Differential Roles of Prefrontal Cortical Interneurons in Drug Seeking after Withdrawal
This project looks at how different types of brain cells in the frontal cortex change after stopping cocaine and how those changes may cause strong cravings in people recovering from addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323580 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I want to understand why cravings get worse after I stop using cocaine. Scientists at UC San Diego will use advanced imaging and cellular experiments to study specific inhibitory neurons in the ventral prefrontal cortex during periods of abstinence and relapse-like behavior. They will manipulate those cell types in lab models and observe how that changes drug-seeking and extinction behaviors. The team aims to map the circuit and molecular changes that could become targets for future treatments to reduce relapse.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to people with a history of cocaine dependence or those experiencing strong cravings after periods of abstinence.
Not a fit: People without a history of cocaine use or whose addiction involves entirely different substances may not directly benefit from these specific findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for medications or brain-based therapies to reduce cravings and prevent relapse.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies and some early human brain-stimulation work have linked prefrontal circuits to relapse, but targeting specific interneuron types is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lim, Byungkook — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Lim, Byungkook
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.