Combination drug therapy to treat pain with minimal or no abuse potential and side-effects
Funded at Rowan University · NIH-11375057 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new treatment approach combines morphine with a GABA-related drug to reduce pain while lowering the risk of side effects and opioid misuse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rowan University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Glassboro, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $374,783 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA055701-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11375057 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with acute or chronic pain conditions who are at risk for opioid-related side effects or misuse in future translational efforts.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without pain or those who cannot use opioids due to contraindications may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a dual-drug approach in preclinical models to see if pairing morphine with MP-III-024 can provide stronger pain relief with fewer side effects like constipation, breathing problems, and abuse potential. Researchers will examine how the combination works on pain pathways and whether it lessens tolerance and other opioid-associated issues. They will also explore if other opioid receptors influence the pain relief from this dual therapy and test different ligands designed to target both MOR and α2/α3GABAA receptors. The work aims to build a foundation for safer, more effective pain management strategies that could translate to future human studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to effective pain relief with reduced risk of common opioid side effects and lower abuse potential.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest possible synergistic pain relief with the combination and reduced side-effect signals in behavioral tests, but further validation is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Rowan University
Glassboro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keck, Thomas Mcgowan — Rowan University
- Study coordinator: Keck, Thomas Mcgowan
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.