RNA location and local protein-making in brain circuits tied to opioid use disorder
Official title: Interrogating RNA localization and local translation during synaptic plasticity induced by opioid use disorder
Funded at Trustees of Indiana University · NIH-11420281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study exploring how RNA localization and local protein production in brain cells contribute to lasting brain changes and relapse risk in people with opioid use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Trustees of Indiana University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $475,500 |
| NIH project number | 1DP1DA066437-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with opioid use disorder for future translation and patients who could benefit from therapies targeting brain RNA localization mechanisms.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without opioid use disorder or with conditions not related to relapse vulnerability would not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on how RNA localization and local translation at synapses influence brain plasticity caused by opioid use. Researchers will use animal models and CRISPR-based methods to map when and where RNA is transported and translated near synapses during opioid exposure. The goal is to uncover molecular steps that maintain relapse vulnerability so future therapies can target these steps. The work aims to connect epigenetic changes outside the nucleus with rapid, local gene expression that shapes behavior. The findings could point to new approaches to prevent relapse in individuals with OUD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify new targets to reduce relapse risk in opioid use disorder and guide development of therapies that modulate local RNA dynamics in the brain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in other learning and memory contexts supports a role for RNA localization in synaptic plasticity, suggesting the approach could be fruitful.
Where this research is happening
-
Trustees of Indiana University
Bloomington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Han, Mengting — Trustees of Indiana University
- Study coordinator: Han, Mengting
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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.