Targeting brain support cells to curb heavy drinking and brain inflammation
Official title: 6/11 Astrocyte-specific changes and interventions in alcohol dependence
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11295399 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is testing whether lowering a specific enzyme in brain support cells (astrocytes) can curb heavy drinking and brain inflammation for people with alcohol dependence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $377,845 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AA029965-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11295399 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
The approach would be most relevant to people with alcohol use disorder, especially those with heavy or escalating drinking patterns.
✕Less likely to help
People without alcohol use disorder or whose drinking is driven by factors unrelated to brain immune signaling are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical work.
What this research studies
They're studying how astrocytes — the brain's support cells — change after repeated alcohol exposure using animal models that mimic heavy drinking. The team will measure which genes and protein-making messages change in astrocytes after chronic intermittent alcohol exposure. They will selectively reduce the enzyme tPA (encoded by Plat) in astrocytes to see if that stops escalation of drinking, reduces neuroimmune signaling, and prevents synaptic changes. Results from these experiments could point to new ways to treat alcohol use disorder by targeting astrocyte-driven inflammation and brain remodeling.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify a new target that leads to treatments lowering heavy drinking and brain inflammation in alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show tPA is increased by alcohol and linked to brain changes, but targeting astrocyte-specific tPA to reduce drinking is a novel approach mainly tested in animal models so far.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guizzetti, Marina — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Guizzetti, Marina
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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.