Understanding brain changes in heroin addiction at a single cell level
Official title: Analysis of chromatin remodeling and transcriptional alterations in heroin brain in single cell resolution
Funded at James J Peters VA Medical Center · NIH-11052076 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how heroin addiction affects the brain, aiming to find out what changes happen in brain cells that might make someone more likely to struggle with opioid use disorder, which could help in developing better treatments for those who need support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | James J Peters VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 1I01BX006642-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11052076 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with a history of heroin use or Opioid Use Disorder, particularly military veterans.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not used opioids or do not have a history of addiction may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the biological mechanisms behind Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), particularly focusing on heroin addiction. By using advanced techniques to analyze brain cells from postmortem samples, the study aims to identify gene expression and epigenetic changes associated with addiction. The researchers will explore different subpopulations of brain cells to understand their unique responses to heroin and how these may contribute to addiction vulnerability. This work could lead to the discovery of new molecular markers and treatment targets for OUD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment options for individuals struggling with heroin addiction.
How similar studies have gone: While similar approaches have been successful in studying other neurological disorders, this specific application to heroin addiction is novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
James J Peters VA Medical Center
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dracheva, Stella — James J Peters VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Dracheva, Stella
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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.