Cellular and circuit-level mechanisms of HIV/NRTI-related pain in the context of opioids
Official title: Cellular and circuitry mechanisms of NRTI-induced pain pathogenesis in the context of opioids and HIV
Funded at State University New York Stony Brook · NIH-11594083 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how HIV medicines (NRTIs) and opioids may combine to cause chronic pain, aiming to help people living with HIV who experience pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $73,312 |
| NIH project number | 3R01DA057195-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11594083 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people living with HIV who are undergoing cART and may be at risk for neuropathic pain (clinical translation may occur in future steps).
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV on cART or without neuropathic pain exposure may not directly benefit from this basic/mechanistic work.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how HIV medicines used with opioids and the HIV protein gp120 affect nerve and spinal cord cells to cause pain. Using mouse models, they will look at glial cell activation and neural circuits in the spinal cord to understand pain pathways. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could lead to safer treatments or effective adjuvant therapies for HIV patients experiencing pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better pain management strategies for people living with HIV who are on cART and may reduce reliance on opioids.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have shown glial activation in pain pathways with HIV drugs and opioids, supporting the relevance of this approach.
Where this research is happening
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State University New York Stony Brook
Stony Brook, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tang, Shao-Jun — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Tang, Shao-Jun
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.