Weakening cocaine-linked memories by changing brain 'nets' around key neurons
Official title: Cocaine, Parvalbumin, and Perineuronal Nets
Funded at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center · NIH-11294322 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to weaken strong cocaine-related memories by altering protective nets around certain brain cells to help people with cocaine use disorder avoid relapse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $707,238 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA055645-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294322 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with a history of cocaine use disorder who experience relapse triggered by drug-related cues would be the most relevant future candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose addiction is primarily driven by non-memory factors, or those with other primary substance use disorders or severe uncontrolled medical or psychiatric conditions, may not benefit from this memory-targeting approach.
What this research studies
Researchers use a rat model where animals self-administer cocaine to recreate the strong drug-related memories that drive relapse. In the lab they remove or alter perineuronal nets (specialized extracellular 'nets') around parvalbumin-containing neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex and record how those neurons and nearby brain circuits change. They measure effects on brain rhythms, neuron firing, and relapse-like behaviors such as cue-induced reinstatement. Findings could point to approaches that disrupt memory reconsolidation and reduce cue-triggered drug seeking.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that weaken drug-associated memories and lower the risk of relapse for people with cocaine use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies, including the team's preliminary work in rats, have shown that removing perineuronal nets can disrupt cocaine memories, but this approach is new and has not yet been tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sorg, Barbara a — Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center
- Study coordinator: Sorg, Barbara 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.