Mapping immune-related gene changes in the brains of people with alcohol dependence
Official title: 2/11 Spatially Resolved, Single Cell, Neuroimmune Transcriptomes in Alcohol Dependence
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11296915 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project maps where and which brain cells show immune-related gene changes in people with alcohol dependence to point toward new treatment targets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2011 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $545,194 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AA020926-15 |
| Project ID | NIH-11296915 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with current or past alcohol use disorder or a history of heavy, chronic drinking would be the most relevant group for this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without alcohol dependence or whose drinking problems stem from social or non-biological causes may not directly benefit from these biological findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will use human postmortem brain samples, genetic data, and animal models to look at immune and inflammatory genes at single-cell resolution and in their exact brain locations. They will combine single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to see which cell types and brain regions show the strongest immune-related changes linked to heavy drinking. The team will compare human findings with animal experiments to identify genes and pathways that drive escalated alcohol consumption. The goal is to find specific molecular targets that could guide new treatments for alcohol use disorder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could uncover new drug or biologic targets to reduce brain inflammation and help lower excessive drinking.
How similar studies have gone: Previous postmortem and genetic studies have linked immune and inflammatory genes to alcoholism and rodent experiments show immune signaling can drive drinking, but applying single-cell spatial mapping in human brain tissue is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mayfield, R. Dayne — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Mayfield, R. Dayne
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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.