# The Effect of High Frequency rTMS to the Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Alcohol Use Disorder

> **NIH NIH K23** · NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC · 2022 · $188,646

## Abstract

Project Summary
In this application for a K23 Mentored Patient Oriented Research Career Development Award, Dr. Jonathan
Wai proposes a comprehensive clinical study and training plan for development of an independent researcher
with expertise in device-based treatments and neuroimaging for alcohol use disorder (AUD). This proposal
seeks to study the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on alcohol self-administration
and in vivo brain GABA levels in non-treatment seeking human participants with AUD. Previous studies have
shown that AUD is associated with broad dysfunction in the prefrontal cortices, as well as decreased
prefrontal GABA concentrations. Additionally, rTMS has been shown to increase prefrontal GABA in treatment
studies with depressed patients, with the increase in GABA associated with clinical improvement. Early work
using rTMS for AUD has shown that rTMS can decrease craving and reported alcohol use. Thus, rTMS to the
prefrontal cortex may serve as a potential treatment for AUD, either alone or as an adjunct to existing
treatments.
We plan to conduct two sham-controlled, double-blinded, randomized human laboratory alcohol self-
administration studies during the award period. For Study 1, AUD participants will be admitted to a research
unit and randomized to receive active (n=22) or sham (n=22) rTMS. Participants will have an alcohol self-
administration session and neuroimaging with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) before and after three
weeks of rTMS. We will compare the number of choices for alcohol and brain GABA levels in AUD participants
receiving active vs. sham rTMS. Study 2 (n=20) will be a pilot study using the same procedures, with the
addition of naltrexone in both active and sham rTMS groups. In conducting this study and pursuing
coursework and supervision from his mentors (Drs. Diana Martinez, Suzette Evans, and Christoph Juchem) and
collaborators (Drs. Markus Heilig, Abraham Zangen, and Hanga Galfalvy), Dr. Wai will engage in an
individualized training program to develop expertise in 1) Research with clinical rTMS, 2) Clinical research
methods, 3) MRS acquisition and analysis methods, 4) Advanced biostatistics, and 5) Grant writing and
management.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10428478
- **Project number:** 5K23AA028295-02
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Jonathan Wai
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $188,646
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-06-15 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10428478

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10428478, The Effect of High Frequency rTMS to the Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Alcohol Use Disorder (5K23AA028295-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10428478. Licensed CC0.

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