Understanding how cocaine changes specific brain cells and circuits to drive addiction
Official title: Dissecting and modulating cell type and circuit-specific epigenetic mechanisms of cocaine addiction
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11422384 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A larger study at Duke University will explore how cocaine changes certain brain cells and circuits, with the goal of finding fresh ways to help people struggling with addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $436,050 |
| NIH project number | 5DP1DA063507-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11422384 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with cocaine use disorder or those at risk of developing addiction who could benefit from therapies that target brain circuits and epigenetic mechanisms.
✕Less likely to help
Relatively healthy individuals or those not affected by cocaine use disorder are unlikely to benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project looks at how cocaine causes lasting changes in brain cell types and neural circuits, especially in regions like the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. Using advanced methods, it aims to map cell-specific epigenetic changes and how these push circuits toward craving and compulsive drug-seeking. The team hopes to identify targets that could be modulated to restore healthier brain states and reduce relapse risk. Participation would involve analyses that may connect to findings from human studies and could inform future treatments for cocaine addiction. The grant emphasizes translating molecular and circuit findings into approaches that could benefit people struggling with cocaine use disorder.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new treatment strategies that normalize brain circuits and reduce craving and relapse in cocaine addiction.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that circuit-level and epigenetic changes contribute to addiction, supporting the rationale for this approach, though detailed cell-type specificity is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Velmeshev, Dmitry — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Velmeshev, Dmitry
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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.