Mouse models to learn how genes affect addiction risk
Establishment and Characterization of Novel Mutant Mouse Models for the Addiction Research Community
Researchers are creating and studying new gene-knockout mice to learn which genes and brain changes make people more likely to develop addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jackson Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bar Harbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140301 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will use a large knockout-mouse pipeline at The Jackson Laboratory to find mouse lines that show emotional or neuronal traits linked to addiction. They will select lines with abnormal behavior in tests like open field, light-dark, and sleep measures but without metabolism problems. Selected mice will undergo deeper drug-exposure experiments and tissue studies to reveal how specific gene deletions change brain circuits and behavior. Results will point to genes and pathways that could inform future human studies and possible treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with substance use disorders, a strong family history of addiction, or an interest in genetic causes of addiction are the most likely to benefit from these findings in the future.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new therapies or those with conditions unrelated to addiction will not receive direct benefit from this mouse-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify genes and brain pathways that lead to addiction and guide the development of new treatments or ways to spot people at higher risk.
How similar studies have performed: Previous mouse genetics research and data from the JAX KOMP2 pipeline have already linked some gene deletions to emotional and addiction-like behaviors, so this approach builds on promising but still early evidence.
Where this research is happening
Bar Harbor, United States
- Jackson Laboratory — Bar Harbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kumar, Vivek — Jackson Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Kumar, Vivek
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.