Serotonin Targets to Improve Exposure Therapy in PTSD (Rat Study)
Official title: Serotonergic Modulation of Extinction Learning as a Model of Exposure Therapy in Rats
Funded at South Texas Veterans Health Care System · NIH-11294822 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A rat study tests whether specific serotonin receptors can make exposure therapy more effective for PTSD-like symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | South Texas Veterans Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 2I01RD001353-09A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294822 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with PTSD or PTSD-like symptoms who might benefit from refined, receptor-targeted therapeutic strategies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
This animal study does not involve patients and may not directly benefit individuals today.
What this research studies
This project uses rat models to explore how blocking or modulating certain serotonin receptors in brain circuits related to fear and extinction can improve how extinction learning works, which underpins exposure therapy. Researchers focus on receptors like 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, and 5-HT3 to see if targeted modulation enhances learning to reduce fear responses. The work aims to identify receptor-specific strategies that could someday refine PTSD treatments that rely on exposure-based approaches. Although the study is in animals, findings could guide future human research and help veterans struggling with PTSD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to more precise targets for improving exposure therapy in PTSD.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests specific serotonin receptor subtypes influence extinction learning, but translating this to human PTSD treatment is still in early stages.
Where this research is happening
-
South Texas Veterans Health Care System
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morilak, David a — South Texas Veterans Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Morilak, David a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Home-based Caregiving Outcomes Center to Improve Veterans’ Non-Institutional Care
A program to help Veterans and their caregivers receive better non-institutional support at home and in the community.
-
BDNF and brain inflammation in veterans’ mental health
This grant looks at how brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling and brain inflammation may contribute to depression and stress-related mental health problems in US veterans.
-
Blocking PELP1 to improve treatment for triple-negative breast cancer
This project tests a new drug that blocks PELP1 to help DNA-targeting chemotherapy work better for people with triple-negative breast cancer.
-
Orexin system for PTSD with psychotic symptoms
Looking at whether blocking orexin receptors can reduce stress-related brain and behavior changes linked to PTSD with psychotic symptoms.
-
Helping tumor-fighting T cells stay in lymph nodes to improve cancer immunotherapy
Looking for ways to help tumor-fighting CD8+ T cells settle in tumor-draining lymph nodes so cancer immunotherapies like vaccines and PD‑1 blockers work better for more patients.
-
HERO CARE: Better home and community caregiving for Veterans
This project will create and spread improved home- and community-based care and support for Veterans and their unpaid caregivers.
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.