Mapping brain cell changes linked to opioid addiction
Multiomic profiling of cell types mediating opioid use disorder in rats
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · NIH-11322115
Researchers are using advanced cell-level profiling in a rat model to find how oxycodone changes brain cells in ways that could help people with opioid addiction.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11322115 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, this project looks at how different brain cell types respond to extended oxycodone exposure using a rat model that mimics aspects of human opioid use disorder. Scientists will take brain tissue from key regions and apply single-cell multiome technology to read both gene activity and chromatin accessibility in the same cells. By linking epigenetic changes with gene expression in thousands of individual cells, they aim to identify specific cell types and molecular pathways altered by opioids. Findings are intended to point to cellular targets that could guide future treatments for people with opioid addiction.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll people; its results would be most relevant to adults with opioid use disorder seeking improved treatment options in the future.
Not a fit: People looking to join a clinical trial or receive immediate treatment now are unlikely to benefit directly because this is preclinical animal research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new cellular targets and biological pathways that lead to better treatments for opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell and multiomic methods have provided important insights in other brain disorders, but applying single-cell multiome profiling specifically to oxycodone exposure in rats is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO — LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: TELESE, FRANCESCA — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- Study coordinator: TELESE, FRANCESCA
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 below.