Investigating how hormones affect brain activity related to heroin seeking
Official title: Progesterone and allopregnanolone of prefrontal cortical activity dynamics and heroin seeking
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-10794395 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brain works in mice to better understand why people with opioid addiction might go back to using drugs, which could help find new ways to support recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $192,802 |
| NIH project number | 5K99DA058049-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10794395 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a history of opioid use disorder who may benefit from new therapeutic approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of substance use disorder or are not affected by opioid addiction may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to understand the neural mechanisms that contribute to relapse in opioid use disorder by examining brain activity in mice. Using advanced imaging techniques, the study will observe changes in the prefrontal cortex as the mice engage in heroin self-administration. The researchers will analyze how different patterns of brain activity correlate with behaviors associated with drug seeking and relapse. This work could lead to new insights into how hormonal influences affect addiction and recovery processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of targeted treatments for individuals struggling with opioid addiction.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding the neural mechanisms of addiction, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Doncheck, Elizabeth — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Doncheck, Elizabeth
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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.