NOP receptors as targets for new treatments for cocaine use disorder (in nonhuman primates)
Official title: NOP receptors as targets for novel pharmacotherapies for cocaine use disorder in nonhuman primate models
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11399036 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in nonhuman primates is testing whether drugs that activate NOP receptors could help treat cocaine use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $648,080 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA062224-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399036 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with cocaine use disorder who might benefit from future translation of NOP-based therapies.
✕Less likely to help
This study uses nonhuman primates and does not directly involve patients; results would need further translation before patient benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses long-term cocaine self-administration in monkeys along with PET imaging to understand how NOP receptors relate to cocaine reinforcement. By comparing drug-naïve monkeys’ NOP receptor binding with their initial cocaine use, the researchers hope to identify factors that influence vulnerability to cocaine use disorder. The team will use a specialized PET tracer, [11C]NOP-1A, to map brain NOP receptors as animals experience cocaine. The work aims to translate findings to potential human treatments for cocaine addiction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could guide the development of new medications targeting NOP receptors to help people with cocaine use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical nonhuman and rodent data suggest NOP receptor targeting could modulate cocaine reward, with translational PET imaging supporting relevance, but human trials remain needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Czoty, Paul W. — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Czoty, Paul W.
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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.