Understanding why some people in alcohol recovery have more anxiety and depression linked to the BNST brain network
Official title: Investigating individual differences in alcohol abstinence associated anxiety and depression across the BNST network.
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11395412 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how differences in a tiny brain network called the BNST relate to anxiety and depression in people who are recently stopping alcohol.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $357,405 |
| NIH project number | 5P60AA031124-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395412 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with alcohol use disorder who are in early abstinence or planning to stop drinking and who can undergo MRI scans would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without alcohol use disorder, those not in an abstinence phase, or individuals unable or unwilling to have MRI scans are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
What this research studies
You or others in early alcohol abstinence would have advanced MRI scans that target a small brain region called the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). The team will measure how the BNST connects with other brain areas and how those patterns line up with each person’s anxiety and depression during abstinence. The work builds on animal studies and a prior pilot in people that found BNST changes in early recovery. Researchers aim to identify different subgroups who may need different supports to avoid relapse.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help predict who is at higher risk for relapse and point to more personalized treatments to reduce anxiety and depression during abstinence.
How similar studies have gone: Animal research strongly links the BNST to withdrawal-related anxiety, and a prior human pilot showed BNST changes in early abstinence, but applying this imaging approach to larger patient groups is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blackford, Jennifer Urbano — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Blackford, Jennifer Urbano
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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.