Investigating how adolescent binge drinking affects brain cells and behavior differently in males and females
Official title: Sex differences in somatostatin cell dynamics and exploratory behavior after adolescent binge drinking in mice
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11045596 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how binge drinking during the teenage years affects brain cells and behavior, especially how it differs between boys and girls, using mice to help us understand the risks of addiction and thinking problems in young people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $75,052 |
| NIH project number | 5F32AA031396-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11045596 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12-20 who have experienced binge drinking or are at risk for alcohol use disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not adolescents or who have not engaged in binge drinking may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the effects of adolescent binge drinking on brain cells and behavior, focusing on sex differences. Using a mouse model, the study examines how alcohol consumption alters somatostatin cell dynamics in the brain and how these changes relate to exploratory behavior. Researchers will utilize advanced techniques such as patch-clamp electrophysiology and neuroimaging to assess the impact of alcohol on brain function and behavior over time. The goal is to better understand the underlying mechanisms that contribute to addiction and cognitive dysfunction in adolescents.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment strategies for alcohol-related issues in adolescents.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding sex differences in addiction can lead to more effective treatment approaches, indicating potential success for this study's approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seemiller, Laurel — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Seemiller, Laurel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Population Research Institute: Understanding how communities, movement, and social factors shape health across ages
A Pennsylvania State University research center is studying how where people live, move, and participate in families affects health and well‑being from childhood through adulthood.
-
Integrated data platform for infectious disease research using scalable public infrastructure
A large NIH grant funds a platform that makes infectious-disease data easier to access, combine, and analyze using powerful public infrastructure so researchers can work faster and more collaboratively.
-
READI-SET-GO: Improving Delirium Screening for Hospitalized Older Adults
A hospital-based program tests how well routine nurse delirium screening using UB-CAM works when integrated into the electronic health record to improve outcomes for older patients.
-
Healthy Brain and Child Development: a big study following kids from birth through age 10
A large, nationwide study will follow 7,200 mothers and their babies to map how early life experiences shape brain growth and development.
-
How sex differences affect the rewarding feel of aggression in the brain
This grant explores why aggressive experiences feel more rewarding in females and how specific brain circuits and chemical signals shape this in both sexes.
-
How parents' emotions shape young children's anxiety
This project explores how parents' moment-by-moment emotions and bodily signals shape anxiety in children from infancy through age 11.
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.