Stress and brain circuits behind how we respond to alcohol
Official title: Behavioral Neurobiology of Stress, Alcohol Responsivity, and Alcohol Drinking
Funded at Tufts University Medford · NIH-11343464 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in adult rodents will explore how stress changes the way the brain processes alcohol’s unpleasant effects and increases drinking, focusing on a specific brain pathway.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Medford NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 20, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $686,774 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AA033087-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11343464 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future translation are individuals with AUD or high stress-related drinking risk who may benefit from therapies targeting specific brain circuits.
✕Less likely to help
Results from animal studies may not directly translate to all patient groups and may not imply immediate benefit for all individuals with AUD.
What this research studies
This project uses a well-characterized rodent model to understand why stress changes how much alcohol animals drink. It looks at how avoiding stressful situations alters brain signaling between the lateral hypothalamus and lateral habenula when alcohol is present. The researchers will compare animals that show persistent avoidance of stress-paired cues with those that do not, to see how this affects alcohol aversion and consumption. By linking stress-induced brain changes to drinking behavior, the study aims to map neural circuits that contribute to alcohol use disorder. The work could point to future targets for therapies to reduce harmful drinking in people who are particularly stress-responsive.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide development of treatments that restore normal aversion to alcohol and reduce risky drinking in individuals sensitive to stress.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in animals supports a link between stress, brain circuits, and alcohol drinking, with some circuits already implicated in alcohol aversion.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Medford
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weera, Marcus Matthias — Tufts University Medford
- Study coordinator: Weera, Marcus Matthias
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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.