Her team is studying individual brain cells to see how nicotine changes the energy systems inside neurons that drive craving.
UCF reports that Cali Calarco, an assistant professor at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences at the UCF College of Medicine, leads the research with support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The award totals about $943,000 over nearly five years. It funded work Calarco began as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland Baltimore in 2024 and continued at UCF after she joined the university in January 2026.
The Brain’s Reward Center Needs Energy
Calarco’s lab focuses on the nucleus accumbens, a brain region involved in reward and motivation. Nicotine changes activity in this area and that may help explain why cravings can break through during a meeting, a commute or even the middle of the night.
Her team is looking at mitochondria which supply energy to cells. The researchers want to know how nicotine changes mitochondrial function in reward related neurons and why some cell types react differently from others.
The idea adds an energy component to how scientists understand addiction. If nicotine disrupts the way certain neurons produce and manage energy restoring that function could offer another path toward treatment.
“We want to understand what’s really influencing the neuron and whether we can rescue it” Calarco said.
Nicotine Pouches Change the Picture
Nicotine products continue to change and research has to keep up. Federal survey data cited in the report show that nicotine pouch use nearly quadrupled among young Americans between 2022 and 2025.
Products such as Zyn have also reached groups that public health campaigns haven’t always targeted closely including young professionals. “It’s a bit of a whack a mole situation with products” Calarco said.
Why Quit Aids Don’t Work for Everyone
Nicotine causes more deaths in the United States than any other substance, yet treatment receives less attention than treatment for opioids or alcohol.
Nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline and bupropion can help some people quit but they don’t work for everyone. Many unsupported quit attempts also end in relapse.
Calarco’s cellular research could eventually have uses beyond nicotine. Her earlier work examined mitochondria and cocaine seeking behavior.
Researchers also find related mechanisms in the nucleus accumbens across several addictive substances which could make this work relevant to alcohol and stimulants.
The same brain systems may even play a role in compulsive behaviors such as problematic social media use.
Treat Nicotine Dependence Seriously
Nicotine dependence is a substance use disorder and deserves clinical attention. People who keep a nicotine pouch in throughout the workday may think of it as a habit rather than an addiction.
The withdrawal and craving cycle can tell a different story, especially when repeated attempts to quit don’t stick.
You have treatment options now. Nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medications, behavioral counseling and mutual support can all help.
Combining medication with behavioral support can work better than relying on either approach alone.
Nicotine use can also occur alongside heavy drinking or other drug use. In that situation, treatment that addresses all of the substance use can help you tackle the bigger picture instead of treating one problem in isolation.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 offers free confidential referrals. You can also call
800-985-8516
( 
Sponsored Helpline )
to speak with a treatment specialist or search Rehab.com’s directory for rehab centers that fit your needs.
