Why alcohol tolerance can lead to heavier drinking
Alcohol Tolerance as a Driver of Self-Administration
This project looks at whether becoming tolerant to alcohol makes people more likely to keep drinking and develop alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11160766 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use fruit flies to model how initial reactions to alcohol and the development of tolerance change drinking-like behavior over time. They will manipulate about 49 genes (building on prior work with over 120 genetic changes) and measure whether repeated exposures lead to a preference for alcohol-like self-administration. The goal is to map genes and neural circuits that cause tolerance to drive increased consumption. Findings could point to biological targets for later human-focused prevention or treatment work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Although this project uses fruit flies and does not enroll people, its results will be most relevant to people with or at risk for alcohol use disorder.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or hoping to join a human clinical trial will not benefit directly from this basic laboratory study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify biological targets that help prevent or treat alcohol use disorder by reducing tolerance-driven increases in drinking.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies in fruit flies and other animals have found conserved genes and circuits affecting alcohol sensitivity and tolerance, but translating those findings into human treatments remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rothenfluh, Adrian — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Rothenfluh, Adrian
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.