How prenatal alcohol changes CB1 brain signaling
Official title: CB1-mediated signaling in developmental ethanol effects
Funded at Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res · NIH-11128334 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking at whether alcohol exposure before birth changes a brain signaling system called CB1 and leads to lasting learning and social problems in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orangeburg, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $447,588 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA029686-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128334 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This work is most relevant to people who drank alcohol during pregnancy and to children or adults diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
✕Less likely to help
People whose developmental or cognitive problems are unrelated to prenatal alcohol exposure are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers use a mouse model that mimics human third‑trimester alcohol exposure to study long‑term brain and behavior effects. They measure CB1 receptor levels and signaling in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex and examine differences in glutamatergic versus GABAergic neurons. The team also studies epigenetic changes such as histone methylation that could make those signaling changes persistent. Behavioral tests of memory and social interaction are used to connect molecular changes with lasting cognitive and social problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify molecular targets (CB1 signaling or related epigenetic marks) that might lead to treatments to prevent or reduce cognitive and social problems from prenatal alcohol exposure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have connected CB1 signaling to alcohol's developmental harm, but moving from these findings to human treatments is still largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res
Orangeburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balapal, Basavaraj S — Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psych Res
- Study coordinator: Balapal, Basavaraj S
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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.