Alcoholism and addiction continue to shape public health in widespread and complex ways, influencing everything from metabolic disease and cancer risk to brain function and behavior. With one in 10 people ages 12 and older dealing with alcoholism in the U.S., the need for fundamental research on alcoholism, which is referred to as alcohol use disorder in research, and its effects on human health has never been greater.
At the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences, our researchers are advancing the frontiers of addiction research across a wide spectrum of fields, including neuroscience, pharmacology, genetics, and biochemistry. Their work tackles this challenge from multiple angles, working to understand how alcohol reshapes the brain, why some individuals are more vulnerable to AUD than others, how new therapies might reduce harm and prevent relapse, and more.
In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, we highlight a selection of recent discoveries and ongoing efforts from our research community.
Exploring alcohol’s effects on the brain
Recent pathbreaking studies demonstrate that alcohol can induce long-lasting changes in neural circuits, even after extended periods of sobriety.
- Erin Calipari, associate professor of pharmacology, and colleagues reported that chronic alcohol exposure produces persistent alterations in the brain’s dopamine system, which may increase vulnerability to relapse. This work underscores the importance of targeting dopamine signaling pathways in therapeutic strategies.
- Researchers from the Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research highlight a precision medicine approach to treating alcoholism that targets specific neural and molecular pathways, potentially increasing treatment effectiveness for people with AUD.
Driving innovation in addiction science
Several Vanderbilt researchers have received national recognition for their work in alcohol and substance use disorders.
- Prashant Donthamsetti, assistant professor of pharmacology and member of the Vanderbilt Brain Institute, was awarded the prestigious National Institutes of Health Pioneer Award to advance addiction research, enabling bold, innovative studies aimed at understanding the neural circuitry underlying addictive behaviors.
- Calipari, who is also the director of VCAR, received the ACNP Daniel H. Efron Research Award from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, highlighting her contributions to understanding how alcohol and other substances affect dopamine systems in the brain.
- VCAR was awarded an $8.9 million NIH grant to establish the Vanderbilt Alcohol Use Disorder Research and Education Center, which integrates artificial intelligence and precision neuroscience to study AUD and opioid addiction. This initiative brings together leading researchers across the SOMBS, including Calipari, Donthamsetti, and others.
Innovative tools and models paving the future of addiction research
SOMBS researchers are developing novel experimental models to better study substance use.
- Work on more realistic models of cocaine use provide insights that can accelerate understanding of addictive behaviors, with implications for alcohol research.
- Trainee Kirsty Erickson was recently recognized for her contributions in applying these advanced models to uncover new mechanisms underlying addiction and treatment responses.
- Our researchers are actively engaged in wide-reaching collaborations. A Wellcome Trust Discovery Award—typically focused on U.K.-based projects—was recently presented to Carrie Jones, professor of pharmacology and director of in vivo pharmacology and development at the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, to support studies on opioid misuse and addiction, integrating lessons that also inform alcohol research.
The SOMBS continues to focus on neuroscience, precision interventions, and training the next generation of researchers focused on AUD and addiction. By combining molecular insights with behavioral studies and computational modeling, our faculty and trainees are driving forward our understanding of AUD—and moving closer to treatments that can prevent harm and improve quality of life.