Finding new non-addictive pain relief from human nerve cells
Official title: High content analgesic screening from human nociceptors
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11114128 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new, non-addictive pain relief options to help people with severe pain by testing natural substances on human cells, so we can find better and safer treatments for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $372,687 |
| NIH project number | 4R33AT011938-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11114128 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from severe acute or chronic pain who are seeking alternative pain management options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience pain or have conditions unrelated to pain management may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new, non-addictive analgesics to effectively treat severe acute and chronic pain. The approach involves screening natural product fractions using human sensory neurons to better understand pain mechanisms and identify potential new pain relief options. By utilizing human cells instead of animal models, the research aims to improve the translation of findings to human patients, addressing the limitations of current analgesic screening methods. This innovative methodology seeks to enhance the efficacy and safety of pain management therapies.
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 addiction.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using human cells for drug screening, indicating that this approach could yield significant advancements in pain management.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kolber, Benedict J — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Kolber, Benedict J
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.