Motivation for Alcohol Use in Humans and How It Can Be Measured
Official title: Translational underpinnings of motivation for alcohol in humans
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11632189 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how people are motivated to drink alcohol and tests a safe, controlled way to study that motivation to inform better treatments for alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $229,327 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AA029701-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11632189 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants include adults with alcohol use patterns who can safely participate in controlled alcohol administration studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to participate in controlled alcohol infusion studies or who are not seeking treatment for AUD may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at UCLA are building on previous work to translate what we know about alcohol use disorder into practical tests that can be used in people. The project uses a controlled infusion system to measure how hard someone will work to receive more alcohol, helping us understand what drives craving and use. By studying motivation in humans, the work aims to bridge findings from animal and laboratory studies to real-world treatment approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to better strategies for reducing the urge to drink and improving personalized interventions for AUD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous translational work has shown that laboratory tasks can reflect real-world drinking motivation, though results vary by individual.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ray, Lara a. — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Ray, Lara a.
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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.