Investigating blood vessel health in people addicted to cocaine using advanced imaging techniques
Official title: Atherosclerosis in cocaine addiction: imaging risk with PET/MR
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11044071 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cocaine addiction might affect the health of your blood vessels, especially in older adults who have used cocaine, to catch early signs of heart problems before they become serious.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $752,065 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA049547-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11044071 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a history of cocaine use who are currently asymptomatic but at risk for vascular disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of cocaine use or those with overt symptoms of vascular disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how cocaine addiction affects blood vessel health, particularly looking for early signs of atherosclerosis in individuals who may not yet show symptoms. By using advanced imaging techniques, including PET and MRI, the study aims to detect inflammation in blood vessels and assess plaque buildup in the carotid artery. This early detection is crucial for preventing serious health issues, such as strokes, in individuals with cocaine use disorder. The study targets an aging population that has a history of cocaine use, aiming to improve their health outcomes through timely intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier detection and prevention of serious vascular diseases in individuals with cocaine addiction.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on arterial disease in cocaine users postmortem, this approach of using advanced imaging for early detection in living patients is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alia-Klein, Nelly — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Alia-Klein, Nelly
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Atherosclerosis in cocaine addiction: imaging risk with PET/MR
This project uses PET/MR imaging to look for early artery disease in people with cocaine use disorder to help prevent strokes or other brain injuries.
-
Imaging artery disease in people with cocaine use
This project uses PET/MR scans with a glucose tracer to find early artery inflammation and plaque in people who use or used cocaine.
-
Coronary disease and immune activation in people with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection
This research looks at how having HIV and latent tuberculosis together might raise the risk of heart disease, and what immune changes are involved.
-
Reducing Addiction Risk in High Schools Through Better Prevention Infrastructure
Aims to build a sustainable, school-based system to prevent opioid and other drug use among high school students, especially those at higher risk.
-
HEAL Data Platform to share addiction-related data across programs
A platform project to make HEAL data from many programs easier to find and use, helping researchers and clinicians access information about addiction in children and youth.
-
PFAS may speed up artery disease by changing bile acids
Aims to see if PFAS chemicals make cholesterol rise and arteries more likely to harden, using a human-similar mouse model to understand how this could affect people.
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.