Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of South Carolina received a $192,149 Project Grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279), awarded February 1, 2026, with completion targeted for January 31, 2028. This research initiative investigates noradrenergic mechanisms underlying stress-induced opioid reinstatement, addressing the neurobiological pathways through which traumatic stress and comorbid neuropsychiatric conditions—including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder—contribute to opioid use disorder initiation. The project focuses on elucidating circuit-level mechanisms of stress-related norepinephrine (NE) release within the prelimbic cortex of the medial prefrontal cortex and the role of these noradrenergic projections in oral oxycodone-seeking behaviors.

The grant supports advanced translational research employing cutting-edge neuroscience techniques including chemogenetics, in vivo electrophysiology, and fiber photometry with GRAB (G-protein-coupled receptor activation-based) sensors to monitor neuronal activity and transmitter release across stress-responsive neural circuits. The research comprises multiple experimental aims designed to establish whether stress-evoked increases in neuroimmune activity within the locus coeruleus initiate downstream noradrenergic release that mediates stress-induced drug-seeking behavior. Findings from this project are expected to contribute to understanding the biological mechanisms linking trauma exposure to substance use disorder development and may inform prevention and treatment approaches for opioid addiction in populations with stress-related psychiatric comorbidities.