# Pilot Project Core

> **NIH NIH P50** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $132,300

## Abstract

Pilot Project Core
John Krystal, M.D.
Abstract
The Pilot Projects Core provides a mechanism to provide a limited amount of funding to
investigators to collect pilot data for innovative research projects. These projects serve the
CTNA by 1) testing hypotheses or addressing methodologic issues central to the CTNA, 2)
bringing new investigators into the CTNA and the field of alcoholism research, 3) generating
new alcoholism R01's, 4) enabling CTNA to rapidly adapt to advances in the field, and 5)
guiding the next iteration of the CTNA. Pilot Project Proposals are solicited through an open and
public solicitation process. Proposal are developed in collaboration with the CTNA Cores (Data
Management and Biostatistics, Clinical, Genetics) and refined with feedback from the Executive
Committee. The following four studies are proposed for the first two years of CTNA funding: 1)
Anissa Abi-Dargham, M.D. will conduct the first test of whether dopamine D2/D3 receptor
regulation (PET-[11C]PHNO) is linked to NMDA glutamate receptor regulation and functions of
the striatal direct and indirect pathway in humans, 2) Godfrey Pearlson, M.D. will test the
capacity of an mGluR5 NAM to normalize cortico-striatal reward circuit function in healthy
people with alcoholism family histories, 3) Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin, Ph.D. will test whether this
mGluR5 NAM will reduce alcohol consumption in heavy drinkers, and 4) Kelly Cosgrove, Ph.D.
will conduct the first evaluation of mGluR5 density alterations in alcohol dependence and
recovery in humans using PET and [18F]FPEB. We also briefly describe additional outstanding
proposals under consideration for the outlying years (3-5) of CTNA.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9940999
- **Project number:** 5P50AA012870-20
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** John H. Krystal
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $132,300
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9940999

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9940999, Pilot Project Core (5P50AA012870-20). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-02 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9940999. Licensed CC0.

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