# Core 1: Brain Circuit Validation Core

> **NIH NIH U24** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $228,000

## Abstract

Chronic ethanol exposure and stress alter synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability in a number of
brain circuits that control acquisition, maintenance, relapse and escalation of ethanol seeking and
drinking. Work from previous INIA cycles/projects has generated hypotheses about how specific
physiological changes in defined neuronal populations and circuits affect these ethanol-related behaviors.
In the INIA-Stress renewal, multiple projects will test these hypotheses by manipulating and measuring
neuronal and circuit function using multiple viral based genetic approaches in several distinct mouse Cre-
recombinase driver lines. The central goal of this core is to provide initial validation of all mouse lines,
and ongoing validation of all viral tools used in the consortium. While multiple viral tools will be
validated, the Designer Receptor Activated by Designer Drug (DREADD) based chemogenetic approach
has emerged as a common tool across multiple projects and will represent the bulk of the effort. The
DREADD technique, based on neuromodulation by G protein-coupled receptors, has many attractive
features for neuron/circuit control and has been shown to be highly effective for probing circuit function
in animal models. The services of this core will be provided to fill significant gaps in the literature and
provide assistance to many of the INIA-Stress projects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9858159
- **Project number:** 5U24AA025475-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Thomas L. Kash
- **Activity code:** U24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $228,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-02-01 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9858159

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9858159, Core 1: Brain Circuit Validation Core (5U24AA025475-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9858159. Licensed CC0.

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