Mapping where genes are active in brain reward areas
Official title: Registration of spatial gene expression in key nodes of reward-related circuitry in the human brain
Funded at Lieber Institute, INC. · NIH-11143756 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are mapping which genes are active in key brain reward regions to help explain addiction, PTSD, and depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lieber Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $690,859 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA053581-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143756 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) who can participate in brain-donation programs or provide consent for postmortem tissue donation, especially donors with histories of substance use, PTSD, or major depression, would be ideal contributors.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate clinical treatment or direct therapeutic benefit are unlikely to gain direct health benefits from this basic-mapping research.
What this research studies
Scientists will use human brain tissue from the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, nucleus accumbens, and amygdala to create high-resolution maps of gene activity across small tissue regions. They will combine spatial transcriptomics with single-nucleus RNA sequencing to link specific gene expression profiles to precise cell types and locations. The team will compare those molecular and spatial patterns with genes already linked to substance use, PTSD, and major depressive disorder. This work aims to pinpoint the exact cells and anatomical spots that may drive reward-circuit dysfunction in these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal the specific cell types and brain locations that contribute to addiction and mood disorders, guiding new targets for diagnosis and treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Spatial transcriptomics and single-nucleus RNA-seq have been successfully used to map gene activity in human brain tissue, but applying them together specifically to reward circuitry and addiction-related genes is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Lieber Institute, INC.
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martinowich, Keri — Lieber Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Martinowich, Keri
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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.