Cutaneous opioid signals in skin inflammation
Official title: Cutaneous opioid circuitry in skin inflammation and sensation
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11640034 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mentor-identified clinician-researcher at UCSF is studying how natural skin opioids regulate itch and pain in inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and hidradenitis, with plans to map where these opioids come from and how they affect skin nerves.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $32,400 |
| NIH project number | 3K08AR085766-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11640034 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with atopic dermatitis or related inflammatory skin conditions who experience chronic itch and pain.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without inflammatory skin conditions or those not experiencing itch/pain may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to understand how the body’s own opioid system in the skin controls itch and pain during inflammation. It will map sources of enkephalin, study their roles in homeostasis and after inflammation, and examine the delta opioid receptor’s involvement in sensory neuron function. The plan includes developing RNA sequencing and live imaging techniques to see how δOR shapes neuron identity and activity in inflamed skin, with a focus on potential therapeutic targets. The work is designed as a mentored career development plan to advance my skills and translational impact in allergic and inflammatory skin disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding cutaneous opioid circuits could lead to new ways to treat itch and pain in inflammatory skin diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked endogenous opioids to pain and itch regulation, but the skin-specific circuitry is still being mapped, making this approach relatively novel yet building on a known biology.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kashem, Sakeen W — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Kashem, Sakeen W
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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.