Creating new medications to relieve chronic pain
Official title: Development of Adrb3 Antagonists for the Treatment of Pain
Funded at Duke University · NIH-10730831 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new pain relief medications that work better and have fewer side effects for people with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and low back pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 8, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $1,846,202 |
| NIH project number | 1R61NS133704-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10730831 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from chronic primary pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, low back pain, or irritable bowel syndrome.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute pain conditions or those who do not have chronic primary pain conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new medications that target the beta-3 adrenergic receptor to provide safer and more effective pain relief for individuals suffering from chronic primary pain conditions. Current treatments, such as opioids, often have limited effectiveness and can cause harmful side effects. By investigating the role of catecholamines and their interaction with this receptor, the research aims to create selective antagonists that can help manage pain without the adverse effects associated with traditional pain medications. Patients with conditions like fibromyalgia and low back pain may benefit from these new analgesics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of safer pain medications that improve the quality of life for patients with chronic pain.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting the beta-3 adrenergic receptor is relatively novel, there is preliminary evidence suggesting that similar strategies may have been effective in other contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nackley, Andrea G — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Nackley, Andrea G
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.