A new implant for long-lasting pain relief without addiction
Official title: In situ forming implant drug delivery for non-addictive post-operative analgesia
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11117284 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new implant that can provide pain relief directly where you had surgery, helping to manage your pain for up to a week without relying on traditional painkillers, which can be addictive, especially for patients having oral facial surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | January 10, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $75,007 |
| NIH project number | 1R03EB037115-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11117284 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing oral facial surgery who require effective postoperative pain management.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not undergo surgical procedures or those with chronic pain conditions unrelated to surgery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel implant that can deliver pain relief medication directly at the site of surgery, potentially extending pain management beyond the current 72-hour limit. The implant is designed to release a local anesthetic called bupivacaine in a controlled manner, which could help manage pain for up to 168 hours after surgery. By using a special polymer system, the implant aims to minimize the risk of addiction associated with traditional opioid pain medications. Patients receiving oral facial surgery may particularly benefit from this innovative approach to postoperative pain management.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide patients with effective pain relief after surgery without the risk of addiction associated with opioids.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using in situ forming implants is promising, it is still relatively novel and has not been widely tested in the context of postoperative analgesia.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Givens Rassoolkhani, Brittany Estelle — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Givens Rassoolkhani, Brittany Estelle
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.