What drives people to drink alcohol
Translational underpinnings of motivation for alcohol in humans
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · NIH-11158859
This project uses lab sessions where adults who drink heavily or have alcohol use disorder work to earn controlled alcohol infusions so researchers can learn what motivates drinking.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11158859 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would come to the UCLA lab and receive controlled alcohol delivered through an IV using the CASE system, then complete a progressive-ratio task where you work to earn more alcohol. The task mirrors animal tests of motivation so researchers can compare human behavior to preclinical models and biological measures. The team links how much work people do for alcohol to clinical features of alcohol use disorder using the Addiction Neuroclinical Assessment and other assessments. The goal is to create lab measures that translate across species and help guide better treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who drink heavily or meet criteria for alcohol use disorder, are medically stable, and can safely undergo controlled alcohol exposure in a lab.
Not a fit: People who drink lightly, minors, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, or those with unstable medical or psychiatric conditions would likely not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce lab-based measures that help match treatments to the people most likely to benefit and speed development of new interventions for alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Human alcohol self-administration and CASE infusion methods have been used before and the team's earlier R21 showed feasibility, though applying a progressive-ratio work task to model motivation is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- 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.
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 below.