Exploring how natural opioids in the brain affect pain
Official title: Investigation of the endogenous opioid neural circuitry in pain
Funded at Utah State University · NIH-10928803 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body, called enkephalins, change when someone has chronic pain or uses opioids, and it aims to see how activating certain brain cells can help with pain relief.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Logan, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $73,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R03DA058194-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10928803 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing chronic pain who may benefit from alternative pain management approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience chronic pain or are not affected by opioid-related issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of endogenous opioid peptides, specifically enkephalins, in pain modulation. The study aims to understand how these natural opioids change in response to chronic pain and opioid exposure. Researchers will analyze the expression of enkephalin mRNA in key brain regions and map the neurons involved in pain processing. Additionally, they will explore the behavioral effects of activating these neurons to assess their impact on pain relief.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new pain management strategies that utilize the body's natural opioid system.
How similar studies have gone: While the study of endogenous opioids is a growing field, this specific approach to mapping enkephalin neurons is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State University
Logan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bobeck, Erin Nicole — Utah State University
- Study coordinator: Bobeck, Erin Nicole
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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.