From cross-tissue multi-omics toward brain-region-specific mechanisms within the addiction neurocircuitry: a translational approach (B10*)

• Subject Area: Experimental Models for the Understanding of Nervous System Diseases ; Biological Psychiatry
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 402170461

We will apply a translational multi-omics approach to identify genes and pathways associated with cocaine use disorder (CUD) for functional validation in animal models. For target identification, we will integrate bulk- and sn-multiome data on CUD in humans with snRNAseq data derived from corresponding brain regions from a well-established animal model of cocaine addiction, thus providing synergistic cross-species gene discovery. These gene targets will be functionally validated in rodent brain via virus-mediated gene delivery in a brain region/cell-specific manner, and gene expression changes will be evaluated on addicted-like phenotypes in the rat model.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 265: Losing and Regaining Control over Drug Intake: From Trajectories to Mechanisms to Interventions
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Heads: Dr. Rick Bernardi; Professorin Dr. Ana M. M. Oliveira; Professor Dr. Stephan Ripke; Privatdozentin Dr. Stephanie Witt