Understanding what motivates people to drink alcohol
Official title: Translational underpinnings of motivation for alcohol in humans
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10908983 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why people with alcohol use disorder feel motivated to drink, by seeing how hard they are willing to work to get alcohol, and it’s designed for individuals who want to understand their relationship with drinking better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $416,531 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA029701-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10908983 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with alcohol use disorder who are motivated to understand their drinking behaviors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have alcohol use disorder or those who are not interested in addressing their alcohol consumption may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the underlying motivations for alcohol consumption in humans, particularly focusing on individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). By using a combination of alcohol challenges and self-administration tasks, researchers aim to measure how much effort individuals are willing to exert to obtain alcohol. This approach mimics preclinical studies and helps to translate findings into clinical applications. Participants will engage in tasks that assess their motivation for alcohol while their physiological responses are monitored.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments and interventions for individuals struggling with alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using similar methodologies to understand alcohol motivation, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ray, Lara a. — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Ray, Lara a.
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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.