Understanding how stress and sex differences affect alcohol use in mice
Official title: PROJECT 3: Animal model of sex differences in stress-related cellular function in alcohol use disorder
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11416779 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how stress and sex differences influence alcohol use by testing a drug that affects a brain signaling pathway in mice.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | March 10, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $250,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U54AA027989-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416779 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals affected by alcohol use disorder or problematic drinking, particularly those whose drinking is linked to stress or negative emotions.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or those whose drinking is not affected by stress may derive limited or no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a modified drinking-in-the-dark setup in both male and female mice to study how stress and negative emotions influence drinking behavior. It focuses on a brain signaling pathway called cAMP and tests whether blocking its breakdown with a PDE4 inhibitor (Apremilast) changes alcohol intake and stress-related binge drinking. The work builds on prior findings that female mice show stress-enhanced drinking, and it seeks to translate these animal insights toward understanding human alcohol use disorders. Results could reveal targets to reduce risky drinking in people, especially women, who are sensitive to stress. The study combines behavioral testing with molecular analyses to map how stress, alcohol, and neuroinflammation interact at the cellular level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could inform new strategies to prevent or reduce stress-induced binge drinking, with a focus on sex differences.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work in mice suggests PDE4 inhibition may reduce alcohol intake and stress-related drinking, supporting potential translation to humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Picciotto, Marina R — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Picciotto, Marina R
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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.