Treating alcohol use disorder by reducing brain inflammation
Alcohol-Induced Neuroinflammation and AUD Therapeutic Mechanisms
This project looks at whether three existing anti-inflammatory drugs can lower harmful brain inflammation and reduce heavy drinking linked to alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11329972 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are testing whether drugs already used for other conditions can be repurposed to help people with alcohol use disorder by calming inflammation in the brain. The team uses laboratory and animal experiments to compare drugs that block specific inflammation pathways, including pannexin1 channel blockers and drugs that change glucocorticoid signaling. They study both non-dependent and dependent models of alcohol use to see which inflammation signals drive drinking behavior and brain damage. The goal is to learn which approaches might be safe and promising enough to move into future human trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have heavy drinking or a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder would be the likely candidates for future clinical trials informed by this research.
Not a fit: People without alcohol problems, or those whose condition is not driven by inflammation, are unlikely to benefit directly from these anti-inflammatory approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new or repurposed medications that reduce harmful drinking and protect the brain in people with alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies of anti-inflammatory strategies for alcohol problems have shown mixed results, and this project tests newer targets like pannexin1 and glucocorticoid modulators to find more effective options.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Scripps Research Institute, the — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sanna, Pietro P — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Sanna, Pietro P
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.