Mapping tiny habenula brain cells linked to opioid exposure
Integrated single cell and spatial mapping of habenula circuitry to identify projection-specific molecular pathways associated with opioid exposure.
Researchers will map how specific habenula brain cells change after long-term opioid exposure to better understand opioid use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lieber Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179422 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, this project looks at tiny groups of cells in a brain region called the habenula that help control reward and motivation. In rats that self-administer opioids, scientists will use single-cell and spatial gene-mapping methods to see which cell types change with chronic opioid use. They will tag neurons that send signals to the brain's reward center (the VTA) to learn which projection neurons are most affected. Finally, the team will compare the rodent findings with gene data from human post-mortem habenula tissue to find overlaps that matter for people with opioid use disorder.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The patient group most relevant to this work are people with opioid use disorder or a history of long-term opioid exposure whose condition the research aims to help.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatment or those without opioid exposure are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical and post-mortem research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific cell types and molecular pathways in the habenula that might become targets for new treatments for opioid addiction.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell and spatial mapping have revealed meaningful cell-level changes in other brain disorders, but applying these methods to habenula circuits in the context of opioid exposure is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Lieber Institute, INC. — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maynard, Kristen Rose — Lieber Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Maynard, Kristen Rose
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.