# The adolescent microbiome-gut-brain axis as a potential target in opioid abuse disorders

> **NIH NIH P20** · OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY STILLWATER · 2024 · $226,244

## Abstract

Abstract
 Drug addiction is an intractable psychiatric disorder exerting a deleterious impact on public health in the
United States and beyond. Influences of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) on neuropsychiatric disorders are
recognized, and several studies supported that the gut microbiome plays a massive role in brain-behavior
function. A common variant in the gene that encodes brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (Val66Met) is of
considerable interest due to the extensive role of BDNF in neurodevelopment and opioid abuse. In particular,
there is a gap in knowledge about the relationship between addiction and gut microbiome in adolescence.
Therefore, it is still unclear how oxycodone affects the gut microbiome and metabolome in adolescents, one
potential mechanism that may explain the link between brain-gut opioid-induced dysbiosis is BDNF. The goal
of this proposal is to validate the role of BDNF in adolescent microbiome dysbiosis caused by chronic
oxycodone use. The specific aims of this proposal will serve as a transitional career steppingstone and
preliminary research for R01 proposals to determine 1) adolescent gut microbiome changes associated with
oxycodone dependence and withdrawal in Val66met mice, 2) establish the therapeutic value of fecal
microbiota transplants (FMT) on BDNF Val66Met mice on oxycodone-induced-dysbiosis, and 3) to analyze
levels of SCFA and kynurenine metabolites in a non-invasive in vivo model of voluntary oral oxycodone-self
administration (SA). The novelty and innovation of this proposal will cover gaps in knowledge about the effects
of oxycodone-induced dysbiosis on adolescent microbiomes. It will also be the first study to evaluate the direct
effect of BDNF deficiency and opioid-induced dysbiosis in context with the adolescent microbiome-gut-brain
axis. This understanding is needed for the development of future interventions to prevent or treat substance
abuse. Finally, the project will support the Research Project Leader’s future success in targeting extramural
funding (e.g., NIH R25 or R01 funding) and establishing a new direction of research program.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10771563
- **Project number:** 1P20GM152333-01
- **Recipient organization:** OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY STILLWATER
- **Principal Investigator:** Dolores Beatriz Vazquez Sanroman
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $226,244
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-02-01 → 2029-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10771563

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10771563, The adolescent microbiome-gut-brain axis as a potential target in opioid abuse disorders (1P20GM152333-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10771563. Licensed CC0.

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