# Validating a novel chemogenetic strategy for opioid use disorder

> **NIH NIH R21** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $252,000

## Abstract

Project Summary
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a debilitating condition that represents a significant public health
burden. Current treatments are ineffective for many patients because they require lifelong
adherence to a strict medication regimen to be effective. Thus, there is an urgent need to
develop new treatments for OUD in which a single treatment can confer long-lasting protection.
Here we propose to test an innovative new chemogenetic strategy to achieve this by
suppressing opioid-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, one of the main
mechanisms underlying OUD. In Aim 1, we test whether using adeno-associated viral vectors to
express a novel chemogenetic receptor in the brain can suppress opioid-induced dopamine
release. In Aim 2, we will test whether this approach can selectively reduce opioid consumption
without affecting other behaviors. In Aim 3, we will test whether this approach can extinguish
opioid consumption in animals with a previous history of opioid self-administration. We
anticipate that this study will provide the proof-of-concept necessary to continue with further
refinement of this technology, with the long-term goal of developing a one-time treatment that
can confer lifelong protection against OUD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10805617
- **Project number:** 1R21DA057695-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Lucas L Sjulson
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $252,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10805617

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10805617, Validating a novel chemogenetic strategy for opioid use disorder (1R21DA057695-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10805617. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*