Identifying sleep patterns that predict relapse in drug users
Official title: Developing a sleep EEG-based biomarker for drug relapse propensity
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11074114 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how sleep patterns, especially during dreaming, might help predict if someone recovering from cocaine addiction is at risk of going back to using drugs, with the hope of finding better ways to support their recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $512,018 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA057954-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11074114 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals recovering from cocaine addiction who exhibit sleep disturbances.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not recovering from substance use disorders or those without sleep abnormalities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how sleep patterns, particularly during rapid eye movement sleep (REMS), can serve as indicators for the likelihood of relapse in individuals recovering from substance use disorders, specifically cocaine addiction. By studying the relationship between sleep abnormalities and drug-seeking behavior, the researchers aim to develop a biomarker that could help in predicting relapse. The approach involves using animal models to observe how changes in sleep can influence cravings and behaviors associated with drug use. The ultimate goal is to translate these findings into clinical applications that can improve treatment strategies for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new methods for predicting and preventing relapse in individuals recovering from substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between sleep patterns and drug-seeking behavior, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Yanhua H — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Huang, Yanhua H
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social stress and smoking: why disadvantaged young adults struggle to quit
This grant looks at how daily social stress affects if and when disadvantaged young adults who smoke can quit and stay quit.
-
Learning from remission and relapse in lupus (SLE)
Researchers are studying people with systemic lupus erythematosus who are in long-term remission without steroids or immunosuppressants to understand their immune cells, brain function, and what might predict relapse.
-
Learning from Remission and Relapse in SLE
A program to study people with systemic lupus erythematosus who are in long-term remission to understand immune and brain signals that might predict relapse.
-
Alternative NF-kB activation after chemotherapy in ovarian cancer
This grant studies how ovarian cancer might come back after chemotherapy by looking at specific signaling pathways in cancer cells and the tumor environment.
-
Predictors of autoimmunity onset and relapse in skin
A study to understand what biological signals in skin predict when autoimmune diseases start, flare, or worsen in people at risk.
-
Determinants of TB Control, Relapse, and Reinfection
A large, multi-year study aims to understand why some people who are treated for TB still have persistent infection or relapse, with the goal of improving prevention and treatment.
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.