Microglia as targets to reduce negative mood in alcohol use disorder
Official title: Microglia as novel therapeutic targets to treat negative affect in Alcohol Use Disorder
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11465406 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how brain immune cells called microglia contribute to negative feelings in people with alcohol use disorder and tests ways to calm them to improve mood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $636,607 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AA033526-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11465406 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Alcohol Use Disorder or heavy alcohol use who experience persistent negative affect and are candidates for future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without AUD or those not experiencing negative affect related to alcohol may not benefit.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers will study how alcohol changes microglia in the human brain and how these cells affect neuronal circuits related to negative emotions. They will test strategies to erase alcohol-induced inflammatory memory in microglia to restore brain function during abstinence. The work builds on findings in human AUD brains and uses approaches aimed at reprogramming microglia to reduce anxiety-like states and other negative affect. The study focuses on translating cellular findings into potential therapies that could help people with AUD feel better as they stay abstinent.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to new strategies to lessen negative emotions in people with AUD and support recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed microglia contribute to alcohol-related negative affect, with approaches to modulate microglia showing promise in preclinical models.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coleman, Leon Garland — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Coleman, Leon Garland
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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.