Cold-triggered Local Anesthesia for Pain Relief
Official title: Cold triggered Local Anesthesia for Pain Management
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11364146 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study testing a cold-triggered local anesthetic system designed to release pain-relief medicine when and where it’s needed, to help patients manage pain more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $345,940 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM144388-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364146 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients undergoing procedures or managing pain where localized, controllable anesthesia could help reduce discomfort.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking systemic or long-lasting general anesthesia rather than localized, triggerable relief may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores a new way to deliver local anesthesia using cold therapy and specially designed tiny bubbles that release the drug tetrodotoxin when cooled. By combining cold treatment with thermo-responsive polymersomes, the approach aims to provide repeatable bursts of numbness from a single injection without constant drug exposure. The research will evaluate safety and how well the system can produce targeted pain relief in a controlled, patient-friendly manner. If successful, this could lead to longer-lasting, on-demand pain control with fewer side effects compared to conventional methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience targeted, on-demand pain relief with fewer injections and reduced risk of unwanted numbness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trigger-based local anesthetic approaches show promise but face limitations; this study aims to overcome those with cold-triggered release.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Chao — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Chao
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cancer Pain Management for Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors with Depressive Symptoms
A technology-based program helps Asian American breast cancer survivors with depressive symptoms manage chronic pain more effectively from home using a web app and mobile tools.
-
Building Indigenous Research Infrastructure for Substance Misuse and Pain Management
A planned two-year effort helps the Lumbee Tribe build a community-led research infrastructure to better understand and address substance misuse and pain in their community.
-
Coordinated pain care using technology in community clinics
A large, real-world study will test a coordinated, multi-component pain care plan in community health centers to help people with chronic musculoskeletal pain get non-opioid and holistic treatments.
-
Cold-triggered numbing for on-demand pain relief
An injectable that stays inactive until the area is cooled, releasing a tiny amount of a powerful numbing drug to give on-demand local pain relief.
-
Tailored opioid tapering and pain support after spine surgery for patients using opioids long-term
A Stanford-backed plan helps people who already take opioids before spine surgery to taper safely after surgery and get non-opioid pain relief.
-
Gut microbiome targets to ease sickle cell pain in patients
Researchers are studying how gut microbes affect chronic pain in people with sickle cell disease and how penicillin prophylaxis in babies might change pain pathways.
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.