Dakota Brockway, PhD
Targeting VIPR1 in the Prefrontal Cortex to Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder is a serious health problem with limited treatment options. Neuropeptides act on G protein-coupled receptors in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, an area involved in decision-making and motivation, and represent promising targets for new therapies. One such peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), helps regulate brain activity in the prefrontal cortex through its receptor, VIPR1. Our research shows that VIP acts on VIPR1 to activate VIP expressing neurons, and activation of this population drives motivation for alcohol. Using advanced tools in neuroscience (electrophysiology, optical biosensors), and leveraging transgenics and rodent models of alcohol consumption, this project will investigate whether alcohol amplifies VIP->VIPR1 signaling, and will determine if inhibiting VIP neurons or blocking VIPR1 can reduce alcohol seeking and consumption. I aim to biologically validate VIPR1 and advance a new therapeutic avenue for Alcohol Use Disorder.
This award supports my training in drug discovery and gives me the opportunity to pursue neuroscience-driven research that I hope will translate to improved wellbeing and patient care.
