Sleep brain-wave marker to spot relapse risk after cocaine withdrawal
Developing a sleep EEG-based biomarker for drug relapse propensity
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · NIH-11264900
This project looks for changes in sleep brain waves that may signal higher risk of cocaine relapse in adolescents and adults recovering from cocaine use.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11264900 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team studies how patterns in sleep — recorded with EEG — relate to craving and relapse after stopping cocaine. Much of the work uses animal models where changing REM sleep can increase or reduce later drug-seeking, and the lab is tracing the brain circuits (including melanin-concentrating hormone neurons) behind those effects. The goal is to translate those sleep signatures into an EEG biomarker that could be measured in people during recovery. If successful, the researchers would link specific sleep EEG features to relapse propensity and explore sleep-based ways to lower that risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents or adults who are in early recovery from cocaine use and are willing to share sleep information or participate in follow-up monitoring.
Not a fit: People who have never used cocaine or whose relapse risk is driven by unrelated medical or psychiatric issues may not see direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a sleep-based test to identify people at higher risk of cocaine relapse and guide personalized sleep treatments to lower that risk.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have already shown that altering REM sleep changes cocaine-seeking behavior, but applying sleep EEG biomarkers to predict relapse in people is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HUANG, YANHUA H — UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- Study coordinator: HUANG, YANHUA H
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.