Project Grant R01AA032786

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism awarded Yale University $713,580 on August 6, 2026, under the Alcohol Research Programs (CFDA 93.273) to conduct imaging research on sex differences in the cortical reward system of people with alcohol use disorder.

The research examines dopamine neurotransmission in the mesocortical pathway—which regulates executive functions, reward sensitivity, stress response, and cognitive function—comparing men and women with alcohol use disorder. The project focuses on cortical dopamine systems using imaging methods capable of detecting dopamine in critical cortical brain regions, addressing a gap in existing literature that has primarily studied the mesolimbic pathway (reward center) and relied on radiotracers unable to detect dopamine in cortical areas. The research responds to evidence that women with alcohol use disorder experience greater vulnerability to reward and stress sensitivity, cognitive dysfunction, and poorer treatment outcomes than men, with dopamine system dysfunction implicated in both disorder development and maintenance.

Performance occurs in New Haven, Connecticut, with a period of performance extending through April 30, 2031. The assistance type is a Project Grant, a standard NIH research grant mechanism typically supporting projects over up to five years. Yale University serves as the recipient institution.