Medications to curb cravings from psychostimulants (PUD)
Official title: Pharmacological interventions for psychomotor stimulant craving
Funded at University of California Santa Barbara · NIH-11366752 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to test whether existing approved drugs that block key brain signaling can reduce craving and relapse risk for people with psychostimulant use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Santa Barbara NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Barbara, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $645,966 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA063695-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11366752 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with psychostimulant use disorder who are seeking treatment and are candidates for pharmacological intervention trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without psychostimulant use disorder or those not considering pharmacological treatment may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores whether drugs that inhibit brain signaling pathways (mTOR and PI3K/Akt) can lessen incubated craving for cocaine or methamphetamine after abstinence. It builds on animal studies showing that targeting these pathways in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex can reduce drug craving without major side effects. The work may guide future human studies and help identify potential anti-craving medications that could be fast-tracked for people with psychostimulant use disorder. The team will translate preclinical findings toward early-phase clinical testing strategies in collaboration with UC Santa Barbara.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new medication options to reduce craving and relapse in people with psychostimulant use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data in rats show reduced incubated craving with mTOR and PI3K/Akt inhibitors, suggesting potential for human translation but requiring clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Szumlinski, Karen Kathleen — University of California Santa Barbara
- Study coordinator: Szumlinski, Karen Kathleen
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.