Wednesday, December 17, 2025 12/17/2025

The neuromolecular basis of adaptation to bond loss

Award Number: R01MH125423
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/07/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2026

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The neuromolecular basis of adaptation to bond loss - Project Summary Loss of a loved one elevates the risk for physical and mental illness and leads to impaired daily function. For most people, the deleterious effects of loss improve with time. However, in a subset of bereaved individuals, the failure to adapt leads to pathological manifestations of loss and an extension of bereavement-associated health impairments. A lack of investigation into the neuronal and molecular processes that underlie healthy adaptation to loss has hampered our ability to ameliorate the negative consequences of loss. To address this gap in our understanding, we propose to use partner separation in monogamous prairie voles to operationally produce loss. Socially monogamous prairie voles form life-long pair bonds and exhibit distress upon partner separation. However, pairs bonds fade with time after partner separation, as evidenced by reduced bonding- related behaviors. To identify the key neural and molecular changes that underlie the adaptive processes engaged after loss of a partner, we will compare voles with intact partner bonds to those who have been separated from their partner. In Aim 1, we will comprehensively assess behavioral and transcriptional responses to partner separation over time. In Aim 2, we will ask how the molecular identity of the neurons responsive to partner interaction changes as a function of separation time. Finally, in Aim 3 we will test the hypothesis that ablation of partner-active neurons facilitates bond dissolution and enables the vole to form a new bond. Together, these experiments will provide the first insights into key neuromolecular changes that underlie adaptation to loss, thereby representing potential therapeutic targets for treating the negative aspects of grief and Prolonged Grief Disorder.


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 = $441,592 )
2026	2026	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	3100 MARINE ST	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	5	12/9/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$441,592
														Subtotal = $441,592

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $507,873 )
2025	2025	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	3100 MARINE ST	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	2/14/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$431,692
2025	2025	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	3100 MARINE ST	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	4	9/24/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$76,181
														Subtotal = $507,873

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $477,216 )
2024	2024	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	3100 MARINE ST	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	3	8/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$47,722
2024	2024	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	3100 MARINE ST	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	12/22/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$429,494
														Subtotal = $477,216

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $572,456 )
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	11/29/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$515,209
2023	2023	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	2	3/1/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$57,247
														Subtotal = $572,456

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $603,836 )
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	1	5/10/2022	NEW	$60,384
2022	2022	REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE	3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB	BOULDER	CO	80309	BOULDER	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	2/7/2022	NEW	$543,452
														Subtotal = $603,836

Grand Total All Awards = $2,602,973

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The neuromolecular basis of adaptation to bond loss

Award Number: R01MH125423

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/07/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2026

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