# Use of in vivo calcium imaging to study addiction.

> **NIH NIH K02** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $120,334

## Abstract

Abstract:
The primary goal of this independent research scientist award is to allow protected time for Dr. Colleen
McClung to acquire new technical skills which will complement her ongoing research program in addiction
biology. This award will allow her to become proficient in the use of cutting edge, in vivo calcium imaging
technology to measure neuronal activity in behaving animals over periods of days to weeks. She will also
learn how to process and analyze the large amounts of data that are associated with this technology. This will
involve dynamic collaborations with prominent researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon
University, Stanford University and Mt. Sinai University. This technology will expand and complement her
existing studies which investigate the role of circadian proteins in reward-related brain regions in the
pathophysiology of drug addiction. Specifically, they will allow her for the first time to measure neuronal activity
over circadian time in specific neuronal populations in which circadian proteins have been manipulated. These
studies will also complement her current collaborative translational projects which are aimed at understanding
the influence of circadian rhythm misalignments in adolescents in the risk for substance abuse. This award will
also allow protected time for Dr. McClung to interact with her clinical colleagues in psychiatry with the goal of
forming a translational addiction center in the future focused on the influence of circadian rhythm and sleep
disruptions. Thus this award will pave the way for future innovative research projects that will help us better
understand and treat addiction disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9882987
- **Project number:** 5K02DA042886-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Colleen A McClung
- **Activity code:** K02 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $120,334
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-03-15 → 2022-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9882987

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9882987, Use of in vivo calcium imaging to study addiction. (5K02DA042886-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9882987. Licensed CC0.

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