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News — EL PASO, Texas (Jan. 16, 2025) – Researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso have been awarded a $2.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore the neurobiological mechanisms behind drug-taking behaviors and addiction.

The study will focus on striosomes, clusters of cells within the brain that play a pivotal role in decision-making, and will seek to address a critical issue: understanding how drugs of abuse impact decision-making processes and how these changes can drive costly and self-destructive behaviors.

“Striosomes appear to act as a gating mechanism for cortical signals related to dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is closely linked with reward-motivated behavior,” explained Alexander Friedman, Ph.D., the grant’s principal investigator and assistant professor in UTEP’s Department of Biological Sciences. “In individuals with substance use disorders, we believe this gating function is disrupted, which may explain why they continue pursuing drugs despite high costs.”

Substance use disorders remain a pressing public health crisis in the United States, with overdoses continuing to rank among the leading causes of death among adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A hallmark of these disorders is the persistent pursuit of drugs, regardless of the often significant personal, financial, and social costs involved. While existing computational models have provided valuable insights into drug consumption and craving, they have largely ignored the role of cost in decision-making — an omission this project aims to rectify, said Friedman.

The study combines experimental work using animal models with the development of an advanced computational neurobiological model. Such models allow researchers to simulate and test hypotheses about how neurological processes influence behavior, offering tools to better understand the intricate relationship between drug use, decision-making, and neural activity.

Travis Moschak, Ph.D., assistant professor and co-principal investigator, highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the project: “This study is a synthesis of behavioral neuroscience and computational biology. We’re not only exploring how drugs affect brain activity but also how this activity translates into real-world behaviors. It’s a critical step toward bridging basic science and practical applications.”

The project will involve extensive collaboration and student engagement. Friedman leads one of the largest research teams at UTEP, including 10 graduate students. Moschak’s lab will contribute an additional three graduate students, all of whom will be funded through the NIH grant.

“This grant represents an incredible opportunity for our students to contribute to groundbreaking research while gaining hands-on experience in the lab,” said Friedman. “Many of them are already deeply involved in the experimental and computational aspects of this study, and their contributions are invaluable.”

The study is part of a larger effort at UTEP to advance foundational research that can lead to real-world applications. Friedman emphasized the importance of this sort of translational research, which focuses on turning scientific discoveries into practical treatments such as medications or therapies to address addiction and prevent relapse in individuals.

“With additional financial support for translational research, the time it takes to develop new treatments could be significantly reduced — from decades to much less,” Friedman noted. “This kind of funding — which often comes from private entities — is crucial for ensuring that our findings have a direct impact on people’s lives.”

“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Friedman, Dr. Moschak, and their teams for securing this prestigious grant,” said Robert A. Kirken, Ph.D., dean of UTEP’s College of Science. “Their work exemplifies the impactful research happening at UTEP, and it aligns perfectly with our mission of serving the community. This study has the potential to transform lives, and we are deeply grateful for their efforts.”

About The University of Texas at El Paso

The University of Texas at El Paso is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 25,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 171 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.