Investigating how brain receptors affect behavior and addiction
Official title: High Content Functional Neuroanatomy of Endogenous GPCRs
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10786069 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain receptors that affect motivation and stress work, especially in people who have used drugs or are under stress, to help find new treatments for substance use disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $195,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DA057690-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10786069 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with substance use disorders or those affected by chronic stress or pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have substance use disorders or related chronic conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the brain, which play a crucial role in regulating behaviors related to motivation, reward, and stress. By developing advanced imaging techniques, the study aims to measure how these receptors function in different brain regions and how their activity changes in response to chronic drug use or stress. Patients may benefit from insights gained about GPCRs, which could lead to new treatments for substance use disorders. The research will utilize common neuroscience tools to gather detailed information about GPCRs in both healthy and affected brains.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new pharmacological therapies for individuals struggling with substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting GPCRs for addiction treatment, indicating that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'neill, Patrick Ross — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: O'neill, Patrick Ross
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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.