Investigating how certain receptors in the brain affect nicotine addiction
Official title: Viral vectors for desensitization-resistant nAChRs
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11095812 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain receptors related to nicotine work and change when someone is addicted to nicotine, with the goal of finding new ways to help people quit smoking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $193,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DA058419-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11095812 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals struggling with nicotine addiction or tobacco dependence.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use nicotine or have no history of tobacco dependence may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in nicotine addiction, particularly how their activation and desensitization influence nicotine reinforcement. Researchers will create and test viral vectors that express modified nAChR subunits that resist desensitization. Using advanced techniques like patch clamp electrophysiology and 2-photon microscopy, they will examine how these modifications affect nicotine self-administration and dopamine release in the brain. This work aims to uncover new insights into the mechanisms of nicotine addiction, potentially leading to innovative treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies for tobacco dependence that are more effective in helping individuals quit smoking.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in modifying nAChRs to alter addiction behaviors, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Drenan, Ryan Michael — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Drenan, Ryan Michael
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.