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-11143305 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why people with alcohol use disorder feel motivated to drink, and it involves fun tasks where participants can earn small amounts of alcohol to help researchers understand their behavior better, which could lead to better treatments for those struggling with this condition.
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) | $156,831 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AA029701-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143305 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have a history of alcohol use disorder or heavy drinking behaviors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not consume alcohol or have no history of alcohol use disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the underlying motivations for alcohol consumption in humans, particularly focusing on alcohol use disorder (AUD). By using a combination of alcohol challenges and self-administration tasks, the study aims to create a model that reflects how motivation for alcohol can be measured and understood. Participants will engage in tasks where they can earn alcohol infusions, allowing researchers to observe their behavior and motivations in a controlled setting. The findings could help bridge the gap between basic research and clinical applications for treating AUD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies 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.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Motivation for Alcohol Use in Humans and How It Can Be Measured
This grant explores how people are motivated to drink alcohol and tests a safe, controlled way to study that motivation to inform better treatments for alcohol use disorder.
-
Effects of ADT on motivation and emotion in prostate cancer patients
This project looks at how androgen deprivation therapy may affect motivation and mood over time in men with prostate cancer.
-
SMART: a program to help people who use drugs in Atlanta stay on HIV prevention and treatment
A new program aims to help people who use drugs in Atlanta, especially those who are unhoused or unstably housed, stay connected to HIV prevention and treatment and related services.
-
Understanding how kids with autism talk and stay motivated across ages and people
A long-term study following autistic and non-autistic kids from late childhood into early adolescence to see how social communication and motivation change over time.
-
Motivation Matters! a smartphone support tool to boost HIV medicines adherence in HIV+ sex workers
A smartphone-based program helps HIV+ women who sex-work with adherence to antiretroviral therapy, aiming to keep their HIV under control.
-
Understanding motivation in the brain's VTA GABA/glutamate system and its link to mood disorders
A researcher at Dartmouth will study how a specific brain circuit that uses both inhibitory and excitatory signals influences motivation and mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder.
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.