Investigating how alcohol affects brain cell interactions and structure
Official title: 4/11 Neuroimmune and extracellular matrix interactions in alcohol consumption
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11014434 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how drinking a lot of alcohol affects the brain's support system and immune responses, using mice to see if these changes might influence how much they drink, which could help us understand more about alcohol use disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | November 2, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $384,244 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AA020912-15 |
| Project ID | NIH-11014434 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals struggling with alcohol use disorder or those who have a history of chronic alcohol consumption.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not consume alcohol or have no history of alcohol use disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores how chronic alcohol consumption alters the interactions between immune responses and the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the brain. By studying mice that have undergone binge-like drinking, the researchers aim to identify changes in the ECM and understand how these changes may influence alcohol intake behaviors. The study employs advanced techniques like proteomics to analyze the ECM and examines the role of specific proteins in brain cells that may affect drinking patterns. The findings could provide insights into the biological mechanisms behind alcohol use disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for treating alcohol use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the biological mechanisms of alcohol effects, but this specific approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lasek, Amy Wolven — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Lasek, Amy Wolven
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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.