Understanding how middle-aged rats respond to opioid use
Official title: Explicating Vulnerability and Resilience in Opioid Self-Administration in Middle Aged Rats
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10980903 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how middle-aged rats respond to opioids like oxycodone and heroin to understand if age affects their risk of addiction, which could help us learn more about opioid misuse in middle-aged people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $357,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA057423-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10980903 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are middle-aged adults who may be at risk for opioid misuse or addiction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not middle-aged or do not have a history of opioid use may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how middle-aged rats react to opioids, focusing on their behavior and physiological responses. By using established animal models, the study aims to identify differences in opioid reward and addiction between younger and middle-aged rats. The research will explore how age affects the sensitivity to opioids like oxycodone, heroin, and fentanyl, which may help in understanding the risks of opioid misuse in middle-aged adults. The findings could provide insights into the mechanisms of opioid addiction and resilience across different life stages.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for opioid addiction in middle-aged adults.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using animal models to study addiction, making this approach both relevant and promising.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Taffe, Michael a. — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Taffe, Michael a.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
-
Understanding how neurons resist and recover from toxic chemicals
Researchers are studying how brain cells fight back against harmful chemicals to help people survive exposure.
-
Fostering Community Connections to Strengthen Youth Resilience and Well-Being
A Hawaii-based effort helps teens and young adults get mental health and preventive care more easily by building local networks and smart referral pathways.
-
Indigenous healthy homes and communities to improve health and resilience
A community-led effort in Indigenous communities in the US Southwest aims to improve housing and health, focusing on safer homes, cleaner indoor environments, and access to culturally competent care.
-
Neural Circuitry Resilience in Psychotic Disorders
Researchers are using ultra-high-field brain scans to understand how brain networks in people with schizophrenia adapt over time, with the goal of finding new ways to improve thinking and daily functioning.
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.