Orexin blockers to reduce alcohol craving
Official title: Influence of Orexin Antagonism on Motivation for Alcohol
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11329086 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will see whether medicines that block the brain chemical orexin can reduce the urge to drink in people with alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $511,222 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030775-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11329086 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with alcohol use disorder or heavy drinking who are medically stable and willing to attend clinic visits and complete lab behavioral tests are the best match.
✕Less likely to help
People without alcohol problems, pregnant people, or those taking medications that interact with orexin blockers may not benefit or could be ineligible.
What this research studies
You would receive a medication that blocks orexin, a brain chemical linked to motivation, and researchers will watch how that changes your wanting and effort to get alcohol using lab tasks and questionnaires. They may compare the orexin blocker to a placebo and measure drinking-related choices, craving, and sleep changes after chronic alcohol exposure. The study builds on animal work showing orexin blockers lower alcohol-seeking and aims to translate those findings into people with problematic drinking. Visits will likely include controlled lab sessions and monitoring over weeks to capture behavioral and sleep outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a new medicine that lowers craving and helps prevent relapse for people with alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Strong animal studies show orexin blockers reduce alcohol-seeking and improve sleep, but clinical evidence in people with AUD is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stoops, William Walton — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Stoops, William Walton
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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.