The University of Florida's Division of Sponsored Research received a $666,569 Project Grant award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279). The grant supports research to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which opioids alter glutamatergic signaling and synaptic connectivity in the reward circuit of the brain. Specifically, the research aims to characterize the role of the cell-adhesion molecule ELFN1 and its interaction with metabotropic glutamate receptors in mediating the structural and functional plasticity of neurons in the nucleus accumbens to shape the rewarding effects of opioids. The 5-year project employs a multidisciplinary approach using behavioral, genetic, cell-biological, and physiological methods to provide critical insights into how synaptic adhesion molecules configure neural circuits and neuromodulatory receptors involved in opioid use disorder. The findings are expected to inform the development of novel interventions for treating opioid addiction.
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