Projects

A strength of the Vanderbilt AUD Research and Education Center (VAREC) is the diversity of research questions and experimental approaches which are brought together within a cohesive and interactive framework of clinical and preclinical researchers. Due to the multifaceted nature of AUD, understanding the neural mechanisms underlying many of the AUD-relevant phenotypes requires studies that integrate information from the behavioral, circuit, and molecular levels. VAREC allows for an integration of research aimed at collaboratively answering this complex question.

 

 

projects
Section Contents
Project 1

Reverse translation of human brain imaging data in mouse models of AUD

Animal models have shown that the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is heavily implicated in alcohol dependence, alcohol withdrawal, and withdrawal-induced alcohol seeking.

While animal models of addiction are heavily studied under the assumption of their utility in translation to humans, a major unmet need in the field is to translate these animal models to humans.

We have characterized the BNST neural circuitry in humans and developed novel methods to test BNST function. We confirmed alterations in a BNST network in early abstinence. However, in the human data one of the most striking findings was that there is substantial heterogeneity in anxiety and depression symptoms; critically, variation in symptoms was correlated with BNST function and connectivity. Together, these findings highlight that early abstinence is not homogenous and that important individual differences exist.

The goal of this project is to use precision neuroscience methods to establish BNST circuits associated with negative affect during early abstinence and to forward-translate findings from rodent model lab studies.

Project Lead

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