Tweaking a brain protein to learn why stimulants and opioids affect brain cells and behavior differently
Reprogramming KZFP function to understand drug-specific transcription and behavior
Researchers are testing in mice whether redesigned brain proteins can show why stimulant and opioid use lead to different long-term brain and behavior changes, with the goal of helping people with addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11293434 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses engineered transcription factors (proteins that control gene activity) placed into the nucleus accumbens, a key brain reward area, of mice. The team will give mice repeated stimulant or opioid doses and watch how the engineered proteins change gene activity and drug-related behaviors. They will use molecular mapping methods, including ATAC-seq, to find which genes and cell types are altered by each drug and by the protein reprogramming. The goal is to identify drug-specific molecular switches that could be targeted by future, drug-specific anti-addiction therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This is a preclinical animal study and does not enroll patients; its results may later support clinical trials for people with stimulant or opioid use disorders.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment, or those without stimulant or opioid use disorders, would not directly benefit from this animal-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to drug-specific brain targets that help guide development of new treatments tailored to stimulant or opioid addiction.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal work has linked the ZFP189 protein to cocaine-related changes, but reprogramming KZFPs with synthetic transcription factors in living brains is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hamilton, Peter James — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Hamilton, Peter James
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.