Interrogating the cholinergic basis of opioid use disorder

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ABSTRACT: Diversity Supplement, Interrogating the Cholinergic Basis of Opioid Use Disorder Opioids offer unmatched clinical efficacy in the treatment of pain, yet produce equally harmful side effects that can lead to opioid use disorder. Because traditional drugs impact all cells in a given volume, it has been difficult to map cell type-specific contributions of drug-mediated behavior. To address this gap, we developed an opioid- DART toolset, which makes it possible to deliver clinical opioids to genetically defined cells in behaving mice. In our parent grant, we are now testing the hypothesis that opioid receptors on cholinergic interneurons mediate the harmful (addictive) effects of opioids, independent of helpful (analgesic) effects. This Diversity Supplement supports Lailah Ligons, a rising second-year graduate student, who will examine the cholinergic basis of opioid use disorder with a focus on neural recording. In line with the parent proposal, Lailah's research will involve employing DART technology and behavioral experiments. By focusing on neural recording, her work will provide valuable insights into cell type-specific opioid effects and their impacts on neural activity. Ultimately, this research will contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies and further our understanding of the complex interplay between opioids and the brain. Moreover, by promoting diversity in the field of opioid neuropharmacology, this supplement fosters an inclusive research environment and sets the stage for Ms. Ligons to become a role model and future leader in the field.