Award
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 5U01AA029969-05
5/11 Microglial MyD88 in Mouse Models of Excessive Alcohol Intake
Recipient
Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
Award Amount
$393,579.00
Ceiling
$393,579.00
Awarded
February 06, 2026
Identifier
5U01AA029969-05
This award funds research on the role of microglial MyD88 in mouse models to understand excessive alcohol intake and its neuroinflammatory effects, focusing on brain cell interactions and alcohol use disorder mechanisms.
Description
Repeated alcohol exposure can be a potent neuroinflammatory stimulus. Alcohol activates microglia within the brain via toll-like-receptors (TLRs); this activation leads to production of inflammatory mediators which contribute to dependence and abuse. Fast spiking parvalbumin positive (PV+) GABAergic interneurons (PVIs) are critical for normal brain function. PVIs are often surrounded by specialized extracellular matrix molecules called perineuronal nets (PNNs) which protect and buffer them from inflammation and oxidative stress. Increased PNNs are implicated in alcohol use disorder (AUD), which may be due to a