Monday, January 19, 2026 1/19/2026

Novel mechanism of alcohol self-administration and relapse

Award Number: R01AA028782
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/10/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2027

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Novel mechanism of alcohol self-administration and relapse - Project Summary Pathological alcohol-seeking behavior is regulated in part by glutamate AMPA receptor (AMPAR) activity in the amygdala. Transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) profoundly affect the trafficking and function of AMPARs in synaptic and behavioral plasticity. Although the TARP family of proteins is expressed throughout the brain, the TARP γ-8 subtype is restricted to forebrain regions including the basolateral amygdala (BLA); a brain region that is critical to addiction. However, the role of TARP γ-8 in alcohol use disorders (AUD) or other addictions is unknown. To fill this gap in knowledge, we propose an innovative set of behavioral, genetic, bidirectional systemic and site-specific pharmacological, molecular, and physiological studies in mice to evaluate the mechanistic role of TARP γ-8 in alcohol reinforcement, escalated self- administration, and cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior as a model of relapse. Elucidating the neural mechanisms of these three critical behavioral domains has high translational value for understanding the development, progression, and maintenance of AUD. Successful completion of the studies in this application will provide fundamental mechanistic insights into TARP γ-8 regulation of pathological alcohol-seeking behavior. Moreover, this work moves the field forward in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which alcohol hijacks reward processes and has potential to inform development of new pharmacotherapeutic strategies that target AMPAR function in a highly selective brain region-specific manner.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2025	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	5	1/13/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $349,875 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	5	5/8/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$349,875
														Subtotal = $349,875

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $349,875 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	4	3/20/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$314,888
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	001	4	5/10/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$34,987
														Subtotal = $349,875

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $685,788 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	002	3	4/5/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$335,913
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	001	3	3/29/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$349,875
2023	2022	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	2	3/24/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
														Subtotal = $685,788

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $428,581 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	001	2	8/30/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$78,706
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	2	3/30/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$349,875
														Subtotal = $428,581

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $349,875 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL	104 AIRPORT DR STE 2200	CHAPEL HILL	NC	27599	ORANGE	USA	Alcohol Research Programs	000	1	5/10/2021	NEW	$349,875
														Subtotal = $349,875

Grand Total All Awards = $2,163,994

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Novel mechanism of alcohol self-administration and relapse

Award Number: R01AA028782

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/10/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2027

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