Understanding how brain epigenetics may predispose to risky drinking in primates
Official title: Profiling the alcohol-naive primate cortex to understand the functional role of epigenetics in predisposing the brain to risky alcohol use
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11415698 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A primate study looks at how epigenetic changes in the brain before drinking might make some individuals more likely to develop heavy alcohol use later.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $642,396 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA032162-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415698 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals or populations at risk for alcohol use disorder who may benefit from early identification and targeted prevention strategies.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without a risk of AUD or those not involved in brain-related biomarker studies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project investigates whether specific brain DNA marks that can be inherited or acquired influence the risk of heavy drinking by focusing on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in alcohol-naïve primates. It uses longitudinal genome-wide DNA methylation data from rhesus macaques to explore molecular mechanisms in the brain that precede alcohol use. The goal is to identify brain-based signatures that predict risk, which could inform personalized prevention approaches if similar patterns are found in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could uncover brain markers that help predict who is at higher risk for AUD, guiding early interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown brain epigenetic changes relate to addiction risk in animal models, with limited direct translation to humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cervera Juanes, Rita P — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Cervera Juanes, Rita P
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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.