Illuminating how brain peptides control withdrawal in methamphetamine use
Official title: Illuminating Neuropeptide Modulation of Substance Abuse Withdrawal: Novel Photochemical Tools for Precision Control
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11388531 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new NIH grant aims to build precise chemical tools to turn brain peptide signals on or off, helping people who are withdrawing from methamphetamine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $462,000 |
| NIH project number | 1DP1DA066060-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388531 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with methamphetamine use disorder experiencing withdrawal could be connected to future trials or related research developments.
✕Less likely to help
People without methamphetamine use disorder or withdrawal symptoms may not directly benefit from this early-stage tool development.
What this research studies
This project focuses on headaches of meth withdrawal like anxiety and low motivation, using advanced light-activated probes to control CRF, NPY, and orexin peptides in brain circuits. Scientists will create cyclic, photolabile compounds that temporarily deactivate these peptides and then release them with light, improving stability and delivery in living animals. They will test these probes in cells and in brain slices from mice, including those undergoing meth withdrawal, to confirm receptor targeting and functional effects before trying in vivo approaches. The work could pave the way for new, targeted therapies that modulate specific brain peptidergic signals during withdrawal.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new, precise strategies to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and improve recovery for people with methamphetamine use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that peptide signaling can be modulated in the brain, but this project explores a novel photochemical approach for precise, rapid control.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahmed, Ismail a. — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Ahmed, Ismail a.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
An integrated mobile health program to reduce SAVA and mental health problems among female sex workers in Kenya
A new mobile health program aims to help female sex workers in Kenya avoid substance abuse, violence, HIV, and depression by delivering group therapy, online resources, and a peer discussion space.
-
Neurobiological signs of resilience and recovery from substance abuse in youth who faced childhood adversity
A long-term study will explore brain patterns in young people who faced childhood adversity to understand why some stay resilient and avoid substance problems.
-
Molecular Pathways of Innate Immunity and Substance Abuse in NeuroHIV
A new project will explore how HIV and methamphetamine together cause brain inflammation, with the goal of understanding why some people living with HIV experience neurocognitive problems.
-
How neighborhood stigma and support relate to substance use and HIV risk for Black and Latino bisexual men
This project looks at how local stigma and supportive places in daily life relate to substance use and HIV risk among Black and Latino bisexual men.
-
How methamphetamine and immune signals affect the brain in people with HIV
This project tests whether methamphetamine together with HIV turns on a specific immune alarm pathway (cGAS/STING) in brain cells of people living with HIV who use methamphetamine.
-
Innovative imaging to map HIV reservoirs in the brain and CNS with substance use
A new imaging approach will create 3D maps of HIV reservoirs in the brain and nearby CNS tissues in the context of substance abuse, to better understand where and how the virus hides.
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.