Let-7 MicroRNA Link Between Adolescent Opioid Exposure and Future Opioid Use in Rats and Humans
Official title: let-7 MicroRNA as a Mediator of Opioid Use Susceptibility in Rats and Humans
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11428132 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how opioid use during adolescence in males might change sperm and affect kids or future generations, using both rat models and human data.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $539,136 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA066511-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11428132 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with a history of opioid exposure during adolescence or those affected by family histories suggesting inherited risk, plus researchers with access to relevant human samples.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with no exposure history or no interest in family risk research may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine whether exposure to opioids during adolescence can alter the germline via let-7 microRNA in testes and sperm, potentially increasing the risk of opioid use disorder in offspring. The work combines animal experiments with human data to explore mechanisms that may pass from father to child. By analyzing changes in brain reward areas and reproductive cells, the study aims to map how inherited susceptibility to opioid use could develop. This could inform prevention strategies and potential biomarkers for at-risk families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better understanding of intergenerational risk for opioid use and identify targets for preventing transmission of vulnerability.
How similar studies have gone: Past animal studies have shown that parental opioid exposure can influence offspring behavior and brain circuits; this project extends to germline let-7 mediated pathways and human relevance, making it novel but grounded in prior work.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vassoler, Fair M — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Vassoler, Fair M
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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.