Understanding how Fyn kinase affects heroin addiction
Official title: The Role of Fyn Kinase in the Dorsal Striatum in Heroin Use Disorder
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11051194 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a specific protein in the brain might affect cravings for heroin, with the hope of finding new ways to help people struggling with heroin addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $53,974 |
| NIH project number | 5F30DA057092-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11051194 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals struggling with heroin use disorder, particularly those exhibiting compulsive drug-seeking behaviors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not using heroin or those with other forms of addiction unrelated to opioids may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of Fyn kinase in the dorsal striatum, a brain region involved in addiction, specifically focusing on heroin use disorder. By analyzing postmortem brain samples from heroin users and conducting experiments on rats, the study aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms that contribute to compulsive drug-seeking behavior. The researchers will explore how inhibiting Fyn kinase can alter heroin-seeking actions, potentially leading to new treatment strategies for addiction. This work seeks to bridge the gap in current opioid use disorder treatments that do not address compulsive behaviors associated with addiction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic approaches that specifically target compulsive drug-seeking behaviors in individuals with heroin use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in targeting molecular pathways related to addiction, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights and potential breakthroughs.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sherman, Jeremy — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Sherman, Jeremy
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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.