Project: Cocaine addiction: a translational study to identify and characterize dysfunctional neural networks

Acronym	COCADDICT
Duration	15/05/2014 - 14/05/2018
Project Topic	Substance misuse is associated with economic costs equal to cancer, cardiovascular disease or all other psychiatric disorders combined. The illicit substance with the highest societal costs is cocaine. Although the chronic relapsing nature of addictive behaviours suggests a reorganization of neural circuits processing drugs and drug-related stimuli, an integrated understanding is lacking. Now, the present translational research team offers a rare opportunity to characterize, in a coordinated fashion, the relevant features in both humans and a high face validity animal model. In brief, identical functional and anatomical connectivity neuroimaging strategies will be used in humans and rats; studies in the latter will be augmented by in vivo multisite electrophysiological recordings and optogenetic manipulations in behaving animals. Together, we will: 1. Establish a valid translation between rodent and human for addiction-related brain network reorganization, 2. Map transmitter specific neuronal circuits, and 3. Test the contribution of these circuits to the development, expression and inhibition of addiction-like behaviours. Together, this innovative approach increases our ability to identify neurobiological trajectories and novel treatment targets. We are starting with addictions because the societal needs are high, the animal models are best established, and the translational strategies required are most clear; once in place, though the same strategies could be applied to research on other disorders.
Network	ERA-NET NEURON II
Call	European Research Projects on Mental Disorders

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	INSERM	Coordinator	France
2	Central Institute for Mental Health	Partner	Germany
3	McGill University	Partner	Canada
4	INSERM	Partner	France