Investigating how opioid use disorder affects brain cell rhythms
Official title: Single-cell molecular rhythm alterations in human nucleus accumbens associated with opioid use disorder
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11062515 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how opioid use disorder affects the brain's reward center and its natural rhythms, hoping to find ways to help people manage cravings and prevent relapse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $193,146 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DA058174-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11062515 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 have experienced challenges with relapse and sleep disturbances.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have opioid use disorder or those who are not experiencing significant sleep or circadian rhythm disruptions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the impact of opioid use disorder (OUD) on the molecular rhythms of brain cells in the nucleus accumbens, a region crucial for reward and motivation. By analyzing postmortem brain samples, the study aims to understand how disruptions in these rhythms relate to relapse and cravings in individuals with OUD. The researchers will utilize advanced techniques like single nuclei RNA sequencing to identify specific cellular changes associated with OUD. The goal is to uncover potential therapeutic targets that could help mitigate these disruptions during withdrawal and abstinence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that reduce cravings and the risk of relapse in individuals recovering from opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of using time-of-death to study molecular rhythms in OUD is innovative, similar methodologies have shown promise in understanding other psychiatric disorders.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Logan, Ryan W — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Logan, Ryan W
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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.