Neurosteroids, GABA, and Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment
Official title: Neurosteroids and Alcohol Use Disorder
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11406051 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how brain chemicals called neurosteroids and the drug acamprosate might work together to help people with alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $700,490 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA031965-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406051 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with alcohol use disorder who may be candidates for acamprosate treatment and related biomarker studies.
✕Less likely to help
People not seeking pharmacological treatment or without alcohol use disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you have alcohol use disorder, this study looks at how neurosteroids like allopregnanolone affect brain signals related to drinking and withdrawal. Researchers will examine how acamprosate might interact with these neurochemicals to improve treatment response. The project will use human data to understand biology, cravings, and autonomic arousal in relation to medications. Results could point toward personalized medicine approaches for choosing or adjusting treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could lead to more effective, tailored treatments for alcohol use disorder based on a person’s neurobiological profile.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests neurosteroids influence GABA signaling and craving, but direct clinical links to acamprosate response require confirmation.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karpyak, Victor M. — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Karpyak, Victor M.
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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.