Exploring kratom's natural compounds for pain relief without respiratory side effects
Official title: Synthetic biology to discover kratom natural product biosynthetic pathways for biased analgesic development
Funded at Cornell University · NIH-11109670 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring natural compounds in the kratom plant to find safer ways to relieve pain without the harmful side effects of traditional opioids, so people looking for pain relief might have better options in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cornell University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ithaca, United States) |
| Project start | June 6, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $420,542 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AT012633-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11109670 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from chronic pain who are seeking alternative pain management options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience pain or those who are not interested in alternative pain relief methods may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the natural compounds found in the kratom plant, which may provide effective pain relief without the dangerous respiratory side effects associated with traditional opioids. By studying the biosynthetic pathways of kratom, the researchers aim to identify and reconstruct the enzymes involved in producing its analgesic compounds, such as mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. The approach combines plant genomics and synthetic biology to enhance our understanding of how these compounds are made and how they can be utilized as safer alternatives for pain management. Patients may benefit from new, non-opioid pain relief options developed through this innovative research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of safer pain relief medications that do not carry the risk of respiratory depression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing alternative analgesics from natural products, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Cornell University
Ithaca, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Sijin — Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Li, Sijin
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.