# Core - Pilot Program

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · 2022 · $129,519

## Abstract

Project Summary:
The objective of pilot project core of the P50 application for “Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics (CARE)”
is to serve as a platform to bring new research directions in alcohol research and attract new investigators to
alcohol research field. The overall hypothesis of the CARE is that chronic alcohol exposure and withdrawal
changes the epigenome to produce differential gene expression patterns that mechanistically alter brain
function during the pathogenesis of alcohol use disorder. We have included two exciting and relevant pilot
projects, epigenetic biomarkers in AUD and the epitranscriptome’s role in AUD. A second set of pilot projects
will also be announced and then selected for the 3rd and 5th years of CARE funding to cover several important
research areas which includes epigenetic basis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and tramautic brain
injury (TBI) comorbid with AUD. Studies clearly suggest that HDAC inhibitors are able to attenuate alcohol
consumption in several animal models of alcoholism. Vorinostat (SAHA) is FDA-approved for the treatment of
cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, therefore we propose to conduct an initial clinical study of SAHA in AUD as one of
the future pilot projects. Another area that will be explored is single cell epigenomics in AUD. The administrative
core of the CARE will provide leadership, overall management, and oversight of current and future pilot projects.
The Specific Aims of the pilot project component are: 1) To manage the operation, progress, and completion
of current and future pilot projects during CARE funding. 2) To announce new pilot projects and manage
the review process by the members of Program Advisory Committee of the CARE. New pilot projects will
attract new investigators and interesting research areas to the alcohol research field. These pilot projects will
furthermore strengthen the epigenetic theme of CARE and allow these investigators to apply for NIH funding
mechanisms to become full-fledged alcohol researchers, thus fulfilling the objectives of the Pilot Project Core.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10380649
- **Project number:** 5P50AA022538-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** SUBHASH C. PANDEY
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $129,519
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-04-01 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10380649

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10380649, Core - Pilot Program (5P50AA022538-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10380649. Licensed CC0.

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