Extended-release gel for opioid-free postoperative pain relief
Official title: Extended-release injectable gel for multi-day treatment of postoperative pain
Funded at Sonoran Biosciences, INC. · NIH-11251964 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new injectable gel formulation of bupivacaine is being tested to provide pain relief for several days after surgery without using opioids.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sonoran Biosciences, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tempe, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,009,908 |
| NIH project number | 5R44GM145020-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11251964 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults undergoing surgical procedures experiencing moderate-to-severe postoperative pain lasting several days.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with contraindications to bupivacaine or local anesthesia, or those requiring different pain management strategies.
What this research studies
This project aims to deliver long-lasting pain relief after surgery with an injectable gel that releases local anesthetic over multiple days. It focuses on patients undergoing various surgical procedures who typically need pain control beyond the first day. By avoiding opioids, it seeks to reduce opioid-related side effects and risks while keeping patients comfortable during recovery. The approach addresses challenges in maintaining effective drug levels in tissue around the surgical site to sustain analgesia. If successful, it could simplify recovery and decrease the likelihood of persistent opioid use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could provide multi-day, opioid-free pain control after surgery, reducing opioid-related risks.
How similar studies have gone: Prior approaches have struggled to sustain analgesia beyond 24 hours; this project proposes a new extended-release gel.
Where this research is happening
-
Sonoran Biosciences, INC.
Tempe, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Overstreet, Derek James — Sonoran Biosciences, INC.
- Study coordinator: Overstreet, Derek James
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Postoperative Pain Guidelines for Pregnancy: Safer, Patient-Centered Opioid Use
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Using smart devices to better understand and treat pain after surgery
A Dartmouth-led project uses smartphones and wearables with smart AI to predict and manage persistent pain that can follow surgery.
-
Contemporary Human Models of Postoperative Pain in General Surgery
A study in general surgery patients using biopsychosocial approaches to understand why some people have long-lasting pain after surgery.
-
Better Predicting and Personalizing Postoperative Pain Care
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-
Central glutamate signaling in postoperative pain regulation
This grant studies how brain circuits control pain after surgery to help develop non-opioid pain medicines for patients.
-
Better prediction and personalized control of pain after surgery
This project builds computer tools to predict who will have bad pain after surgery and help doctors tailor pain control for patients recovering from operations.
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.