Orbitofrontal brain circuits in alcohol-related drinking
Orbitofrontal circuit mechanisms underlying alcohol use disorder
Researchers will use advanced brain imaging in animals to track how two orbitofrontal cortex pathways change during long-term alcohol drinking to learn what drives persistent drinking and relapse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11098582 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses two-photon microendoscopic calcium imaging to follow the same projection-specific neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) over months while animals experience chronic alcohol drinking. The team will focus on OFC projections to the dorsal striatum and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and record activity patterns during alcohol-related learning, seeking, and relapse-like behaviors. By linking circuit-specific activity changes to behavior over long timescales, they aim to identify which OFC outputs contribute to compulsive drinking. The work is done in a laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco using animal models and cutting-edge longitudinal imaging techniques.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with alcohol use disorder or problematic heavy drinking who are interested in research that aims to uncover brain-circuit causes of compulsive drinking.
Not a fit: People without alcohol problems or those whose drinking is driven primarily by social or environmental factors rather than underlying brain-circuit changes may see little direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific brain circuits that new treatments might target to reduce heavy drinking and prevent relapse.
How similar studies have performed: Related animal studies have used imaging to show circuit changes in reward learning and alcohol exposure, but longitudinal projection-specific imaging applied to alcohol use disorder is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: K Namboodiri, Vijay Mohan — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: K Namboodiri, Vijay Mohan
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.