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Mechanisms of prenatal opioid exposure on brain and behavior

Award Number: R01DA050871
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2027

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Mechanisms of prenatal opioid exposure on brain and behavior - ABSTRACT Opioid overdose deaths and the development of opioid use disorder (OUD) associated with the rise in problematic opioid use patterns have reached crisis levels in the United States. Pregnant women with OUD often undergo medication for OUD (MOUD) with methadone or buprenorphine (BUP) to reduce the severe health effects of OUD in mothers and their newborns. However, there is increasing evidence that maternal opioid treatment is associated with developmental defects that aberrantly affect offspring brain and behavior. Yet, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Maternal opioid exposure may influence early lineage and fate decisions for neurons and glia in the central nervous system by acting on opioid receptors expressed on neural stem progenitor cells (NSPCs), but knowledge gaps exist in this regard. We hypothesize that maternal opioid exposure with BUP management alters embryonic neurogenesis, which leads to aberrant development of the mesocortical dopamine pathway, causing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-like behavioral sequelae in a sex-dependent manner. This hypothesis will be tested in a novel murine model of maternal opioid exposure that mimics the standard of care for medication management of OUD. Three specific aims are proposed: 1) determine cellular mechanisms underlying maternal opioid-induced abnormal brain development in offspring, 2) determine the relationship between opioid-altered mesocortical development and aberrant behavior in offspring, and 3) determine molecular mechanisms underlying effects of maternal opioid exposure on embryonic NSPC function. This integrative study employs biochemical, genetic, and pharmacological manipulations in both in vitro cell and in vivo animal models; and the outcomes will be evaluated by molecular, cellular, neuroanatomical and behavioral analyses. Deciphering mechanisms underlying the impact of maternal opioid exposure on NSPCs, brain structure and behavior will advance our knowledge of maternal opioid exposure on brain and behavior abnormalities of offspring and pave the way toward identification of innovative targets for the development of new treatments or preventive strategies to combat the health effects of opioids during pregnancy.


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: 2025 ( Subtotal = $631,388 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	4	4/29/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$631,388
														Subtotal = $631,388

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $631,388 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	3	5/1/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$631,388
														Subtotal = $631,388

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $631,388 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	2	5/1/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$631,388
														Subtotal = $631,388

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $631,388 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	7/1/2022	NEW	$631,388
														Subtotal = $631,388

Grand Total All Awards = $2,525,552

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Mechanisms of prenatal opioid exposure on brain and behavior

Award Number: R01DA050871

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2027

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