# The Neural Mechanisms Associated With Alcohol and Cigarette Craving in Alcohol Use Disorder Smokers During Oxytocin Treatment

> **NIH NIH K01** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $180,749

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This K01 award will provide the support for the attainment of Dr. Kimberly Goodyear’s long-term goals of
contributing to treatment discoveries for individuals with an alcohol and smoking comorbidity and advancing
the addiction field with rigorous research techniques. As outlined in this K01 proposal, the training activities will
afford Dr. Goodyear with excellent mentorship, training and experience to: 1) To learn how to conduct research
involving a clinical trial with individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD); 2) To learn how to conduct research
involving a clinical trial with smokers; 3) To gain knowledge working with oxytocin (OXT) as a novel treatment
for AUD smokers; 4) To have a background in neuroendocrine pathways to assess the relationship of OXT
with the etiology of alcohol and cigarette use; 5) To learn advanced functional magnetic resonance imaging
(fMRI) analysis; and 6) To learn multilevel modeling statistical methods. This K01 proposal is especially salient
given the serious health consequences associated with and the prevalence of alcohol drinking and smoking.
There is a lack of current treatment options for this comorbid group that signals an exigent need for developing
efficacious medications. Recent preclinical and human research suggests that OXT may be a potential
treatment for alcohol, smoking and other addictive behaviors due to its anxiolytic, stress reducing and anti-
craving effects. This proposed research seeks to examine the behavioral and neural substrates of intranasal
OXT compared to placebo on alcohol cue-induced alcohol and cigarette craving in AUD smokers. Non
treatment-seeking AUD smokers will be recruited to participate in a between-subjects, placebo-controlled,
randomized pilot fMRI study. Participants will undergo an fMRI scan in conjunction with an alcohol-olfactory
cue-reactivity task. Secondary assessments will include alcohol and cigarette craving, alcohol and cigarette
consumption, physiological measures (heart rate and blood pressure) and mood measures. A team of qualified
mentors will support Dr. Goodyear with this comprehensive research plan. This proposed research will address
the substantial need for developing new pharmacological treatments by advancing the science knowledgebase
to improve interventions for individuals who co-use alcohol and cigarettes. This five-year career development
plan will facilitate Dr. Goodyear’s transition to an independent clinical researcher and will assist in laying the
groundwork for future treatment strategies and grant applications generated from the findings of this research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10158379
- **Project number:** 5K01AA026874-03
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kimberly Goodyear
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $180,749
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-05-15 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10158379

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10158379, The Neural Mechanisms Associated With Alcohol and Cigarette Craving in Alcohol Use Disorder Smokers During Oxytocin Treatment (5K01AA026874-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10158379. Licensed CC0.

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