National Institute on Drug Abuse 1R21DA062844-01

Lasting effects of early resource scarcity on cortical astrocyte structure and function

Research project funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse to study the impact of early resource scarcity on astrocyte structure and function, aiming to understand mechanisms of resilience to substance use disorders and develop novel therapeutics.

Description

This project investigates how early resource scarcity influences astrocyte morphology and function, and how these changes promote resilience to addiction-related behaviors. It uses a rat model of early resource scarcity (limited bedding and nesting) to study astrocyte surface area, volume, and glutamate uptake in the medial prefrontal cortex across development. The research aims to develop novel therapeutics targeting astrocytes to improve outcomes for substance use disorder (SUD).

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