Breathing-related pain relief: single-cell profiling of parabrachial neurons for safer opioids
Official title: Transcriptomic single-cell profiling in breathing-specific parabrachial mu-opioid receptor neurons
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-11333317 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying specific brain cells to understand how opioids relieve pain while causing dangerous breathing problems, with the goal of safer pain medicines for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $668,659 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA056658-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333317 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with acute or chronic pain conditions who could benefit from safer analgesic strategies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not affected by opioid-related respiratory risks or not eligible for related clinical applications may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on a tiny set of brain cells involved in breathing and pain relief. Using advanced molecular and imaging methods, scientists will map which cells respond to opioids and how they influence breathing versus pain relief. They will profile these cells at the single-cell level to find markers that distinguish analgesia from dangerous respiratory depression. The goal is to identify targets for therapies that maintain pain control with fewer side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to safer opioid therapies that reduce the risk of breathing problems while still easing severe pain.
How similar studies have gone: Similar single-cell profiling approaches have yielded actionable insights in neuroscience, but direct translation to safer opioids remains an active area of research.
Where this research is happening
-
Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Han, Sung — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Han, Sung
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.