Repurposing an Alzheimer’s trial drug to block relapse in cocaine addiction models [ 2018 - 2021 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Dr Jenny Gunnersen (Principal investigator) ,  Dr Robyn Brown ,  Prof Andrew Lawrence

Brief description Repeated exposure to drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, alters the reward circuitry of the brain. Enduring changes in the connections between neurons underlie addiction-related behavioural patterns, drug craving and the propensity for relapse after drug withdrawal. The pre-clinical research in this proposal aims to test whether blocking the function of a particular brain protein in mice can prevent relapse in two different paradigms that model cocaine addiction in humans.

Funding Amount $AUD 1,065,309.20

Funding Scheme Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant