Center for Neural Circuits in Addiction

University Of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY: Overall The NIDA Center for Neural Circuits in Addiction at the University of Minnesota (UMN) develops and disseminates new technologies in the study of neural circuits to produce groundbreaking work in addiction neuroscience. The Center comprises four Research Cores: 1) The Viral Innovation Core (VIC) assists investigators in applying state-of-the-art viral manipulation approaches to their studies of the anatomical, molecular and neural circuit bases of addiction providing expertise for design of custom vectors; 2) The Structural Circuits Core (SCC) offers state-of-the-art anatomical mapping of neural circuits involved in addiction. Integrated with the University Imaging Center and UMN Informatics Institute, SCC provides automated use of brain clearing technology paired with meso- and micro-scale imaging of the CNS; 3) The Addiction Neural Dynamics Core (ANDC) offers a range of imaging and electrophysiology modalities to monitor brain activity in behaving animals across a range of spatial and temporal scales including: novel wide field-of-view optical imaging during behavior at both the mesoscopic and cellular levels, fiber photometry, Neuropixel probes, new optical sensors, and neuroengineering services for custom applications. 4) The Addiction Connectome Core (ACC) is collecting and sharing an “addiction connectome” based on structural and functional connectivity Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data in rodents and non-human primates over the addiction cycle and creating a computational platform to integrate functional and structural data to test relationships between drug exposure and neural connectivity. Our goal is for the Center to be a national resource for neural circuit research technologies that fuels high-impact, collaborative research to address critical knowledge gaps in our field. The renewal specific aims for the Center are: Aim 1. Maintain the framework and vitality of each Center Core. Provide: a) Education and training in new technologies, b) Access to tools, reagents and expertise for data collection and analysis, c) Further development and adoption of new technologies, d) Catalysis of new collaborations among users and e) Dissemination of resulting research and new technologies to the wider addiction research community. Aim 2. Expand innovation and service in our Research Cores. The Center's four Research Cores have each described additional innovative tools under development with Center resources. While Center productivity has been strong in our first funding period, the availability of new, state-of-the-art technologies to offer Center Investigators should continue to boost the productivity and impact of neural circuit research in addiction at UMN.