Understanding how early life stress and cocaine exposure shape brain and behavior in adults
Official title: Early experience and neurobiological risks of adult cocaine use disorder
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11465827 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows a long-running study in monkeys to see how early maltreatment and adolescent cocaine use influence brain circuits and risk of addiction in adulthood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $881,232 |
| NIH project number | 2R01DA052909-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11465827 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with histories suggesting early life stress and risk factors for substance use disorders, or those studying adolescent to adult transitions in addiction.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without exposure to early life stress or cocaine exposure may see limited direct benefit from this specific animal study.
What this research studies
Researchers are tracking monkeys from birth to adulthood to see how early stress from infant maltreatment affects reward, stress, and emotional regulation. They examine brain signals related to dopamine and serotonin, how these change with continued cocaine exposure, and how they relate to anxiety-like behaviors. The goal is to identify neurobiological patterns that predict higher risk of cocaine use disorder later in life. By comparing groups with different early experiences, they aim to uncover signatures that could inform prevention and treatment strategies for humans with similar risk factors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of who is at risk for cocaine addiction and why, which could guide prevention and early intervention in vulnerable individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that early life experiences shape brain circuits involved in reward and stress, supporting the potential for translational insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sanchez, Mar M — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Sanchez, Mar M
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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.