# FGF13 Control of Hippocampal Excitability in Cocaine Contextual Memory

> **NIH NIH F31** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2024 · $27,567

## Abstract

Project Summary
Overdose deaths caused by cocaine use disorder (CUD) pose a major public health burden in the United
States due in part to a lack of pharmacological treatments. The hippocampus is a major brain region for forming
and maintaining drug associated contextual memories. Pharmacologically disrupting these associations, in
supplement with existing psychosocial treatments, can potentially reduce the health risks of CUD. My proposal
is driven by this critical need to identify novel molecular mechanisms underlying hippocampal regulation of
cocaine seeking behavior.
 My preliminary findings suggest a role for voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) in supporting cocaine
contextual memory, via regulation by the VGSC auxiliary subunit Fibroblast Growth Factor 13 (FGF13). I
discovered that fibroblast growth factor homologous factor 13 (FGF13) is expressed in a subset of nNOS+
interneurons. Deletion of FGF13 from this subset of hippocampal interneurons results in increased cocaine
conditioned place preference (CPP). I aim to define the roles of FGF13 in controlling hippocampal excitability
and subsequent role in cocaine contextual memory. I hypothesize that FGF13 plays a critical role in the formation
of cocaine-contextual memory by regulating VGSC function and consequent neuronal excitability of a subset of
nNOS+ hippocampal interneurons. I will address this hypothesis through the following Specific Aims:
Aim 1: To define FGF13 maintenance of sodium channel excitability in hippocampal interneurons.
Aim 2: To test FGF13 sufficiency in mediating cocaine contextual memory acquisition and extinction.
To perform these experiments, I will use a floxed FGF13 mouse line generated by our lab to record
electrophysiological properties of FGF13+ hippocampal interneurons (Aim 1) in response to cocaine exposure
as well as to evaluate the role of FGF13 in mediating cocaine contextual memory (Aim 2). My fellowship training
plan outlines the steps I will take to gain technical expertise in slice electrophysiology (Aim 1), for which I have
little prior experience, and to employ viral tools in studying mouse models of addiction (Aim 2), which are also
techniques that are new to me. The research environment in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at Weill
Cornell Medicine is well suited for me to complete my goals. The proposed experiments will help establish a
model by which FGF13 controls hippocampal excitability, and enhance our understanding of contextual memory
and drug addiction overall. The objective of this proposal is to identify FGF13 as a novel pharmacological target
for treating cocaine dependence.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10806209
- **Project number:** 5F31DA053796-03
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Susan Lin
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $27,567
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2024-07-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10806209

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10806209, FGF13 Control of Hippocampal Excitability in Cocaine Contextual Memory (5F31DA053796-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10806209. Licensed CC0.

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