Developing safer pain relief options for cancer patients experiencing neuropathic pain from chemotherapy
Official title: Flupirtine Analogue Synthesis and Screening for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain
Funded at University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-11095629 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for safer pain relief options for cancer patients dealing with nerve pain from chemotherapy by creating new versions of an old medication, flupirtine, that was taken off the market due to safety issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $179,403 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA298918-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11095629 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients who are experiencing neuropathic pain as a side effect of their chemotherapy treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing chemotherapy or do not experience neuropathic pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on finding new and safer alternatives to treat chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP), a painful condition that affects many cancer patients. The team is synthesizing and screening new analogues of flupirtine, a previously used pain relief medication that was withdrawn due to safety concerns. By modifying the chemical structure of flupirtine, they aim to create compounds that effectively relieve pain without the severe liver toxicity associated with the original drug. The research includes testing these new compounds in mouse models to evaluate their effectiveness and safety.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide cancer patients with a safer and more effective treatment option for managing neuropathic pain caused by chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that modifying existing analgesics can lead to safer and more effective pain relief options, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Duan, Bin — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Duan, Bin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Safer non-opioid medicines for nerve pain from chemotherapy
Testing new versions of the pain drug flupirtine to help people with chemotherapy-related nerve pain while lowering the risk of liver damage.
-
CBD-based formulation to relieve chemotherapy-induced nerve pain
A cannabidiol-based treatment is being studied to help people with nerve pain caused by certain chemotherapy drugs.
-
Identifying biomarkers for neuropathic pain caused by chemotherapy
This study is looking at how certain biological markers in your body can help doctors figure out if you might experience nerve pain from chemotherapy before you start treatment, so they can tailor your care to reduce pain and improve your overall experience.
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New treatment for pain caused by chemotherapy
This study is testing a new treatment called RFT1081 to help cancer patients who are dealing with painful nerve issues caused by chemotherapy, aiming to ease their pain without the usual side effects of pain meds.
-
Photodynamic lipids to boost chemotherapy for metastatic ovarian cancer
A patient-friendly approach tests a light-activated method to make ovarian cancer metastases more sensitive to chemotherapy.
-
Peripheral nerve stimulation for chronic neuropathic pain in a new mechanistic trial
A study at Stanford tests whether a painless-sounding electrical nerve treatment helps people with long-standing neuropathic pain when added to standard care.
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.