# Unbiased analysis of molecular and circuit targets of low dose alcohol

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $380,000

## Abstract

It has been well established that alcohol can modulate a variety of molecular targets resulting in changes in
synaptic function and circuit activity. Much of this body of work has focused on relatively high alcohol
concentrations, leaving a gap in knowledge regarding the molecular and circuit targets of low dose alcohol.
This is a critical topic, as a mechanistic understanding of these highly sensitive targets can provide an
opportunity to probe how alcohol initially impacts the brain. Because of the limited data on the neuronal
circuits sensitive to low dose alcohol, we are electing to approach this problem using primarily unbiased
anatomical approaches. Specifically, leveraging expertise of multiple laboratories, we will capitalize on cutting
edge molecular approaches and advances in whole-brain in vivo imaging to identify and interrogate highly
conserved neuronal circuits and molecular targets that are sensitive to low dose alcohol. We will then use
converging approaches to test the causal role of these circuits and molecules in regulating sensitivity to low
dose alcohol. Therefore, taken together, these aims will provide an unprecedented opportunity to identify
(Aims 1 and 2) and test the causal role (Aim 3) of brain circuits and molecules that are activated by low dose
alcohol.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9988980
- **Project number:** 5R01AA025582-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Joyce Besheer
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $380,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9988980

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9988980, Unbiased analysis of molecular and circuit targets of low dose alcohol (5R01AA025582-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9988980. Licensed CC0.

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