Understanding how brain circuits are affected by using fentanyl and methamphetamine together.
Official title: Assessing the role of corticostriatal circuitry in polysubstance use of fentanyl and methamphetamine using rat self-administration models
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11078722 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using fentanyl and methamphetamine together affects the brain and behavior, using rats to mimic how people might use these drugs, to help find better ways to treat addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $492,251 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA058930-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11078722 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who use both fentanyl and methamphetamine or are at risk of developing such polysubstance use disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use either fentanyl or methamphetamine, or those with other unrelated substance use disorders, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of using fentanyl and methamphetamine together on brain circuitry and behavior, using rat models to simulate human drug use patterns. The study will compare the effects of sequential and simultaneous use of these substances, aiming to uncover how different patterns of use influence addiction behaviors and brain adaptations. By employing advanced techniques such as fiber photometry and electrophysiology, researchers will map the neural activity associated with these behaviors, which could lead to better treatment strategies for addiction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapeutic interventions for individuals struggling with polysubstance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been research on individual substances, this specific approach to studying the combined effects of fentanyl and methamphetamine is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ferguson, Susan Marie — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Ferguson, Susan Marie
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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.