Polysubstance Addiction Research Center (PARC)
Official title: Polysubstance Addiction Research Center
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11422452 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A center at UC San Diego uses advanced AI and diverse rat models to study how multiple drugs interact in addiction and how this relates to human brain and body data, aiming to improve treatments for substance use disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,543,114 |
| NIH project number | 1P50DA066459-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11422452 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with polysubstance use disorders or at risk of developing them, including those with alcohol or drug use problems and related health conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without substance use disorders are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
PARC brings together behavioral tests, molecular studies, brain circuits, and immune-metabolic data in genetically diverse rats and compares these findings to human data from people with substance use disorders. The project links three research areas—Brain Connectomic, Brain Transcriptomic, and Gut-Vagus Multiomic—to create a comprehensive, translational resource called the One-Individual Multiscale Atlas. By studying cocaine, oxycodone, alcohol, and their combinations across sexes and addiction severities, PARC seeks biomarkers and targets that could inform personalized therapies. This work plans to harmonize animal and human data to bridge gaps between basic science and clinical applications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to more precise biomarkers and new treatment strategies for people struggling with polysubstance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research supports multi-system approaches in addiction, but PARC’s integrative, translational framework across species and data types is innovative.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: George, Olivier — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: George, Olivier
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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.