Summary
This research project aims to use Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging to study brain kappa opioid receptors (NOR) in individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) during early abstinence, comparing them to healthy controls.
Imaging Brain Kappa Opioid Receptors in Early Abstinence Opioid Use Disorder
US · IL
National Institute of Health
grant
awarded
#nih-1R01DA060231-01A1
What they want
The project has three aims: (1) compare NOR availability using [11C]EKAP PET imaging in early abstinent OUD individuals (N=40) versus matched healthy controls (N=30); (2) establish clinical and transdiagnostic relevance of NOR by testing whether individual differences in NOR availability are linked to post-inpatient opioid-use patterns among OUD individuals and to experiences of negative affect and anhedonia across all participants; and (3) establish clinical and transdiagnostic neural functional correlates of NOR by testing whether individual differences in NOR availability among OUD subjects are linked to functional connectivity within an 'opioid abstinence network' and if a transdiagnostic functional neural signature of NOR availability can be identified across OUD and HC subjects.
Deliverables
- First human PET data specific for NOR in OUD
- Largest PET imaging study to date on opioid receptors in this population
- Multi-modal techniques exploring fMRI correlates of functional connectivity within the OUD group and across transdiagnostic domains (negative affect, anhedonia)
- Insights supporting high impact and direct translational application for NOR medications development
Technical requirements
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging
- [11C]EKAP binding
- Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
