How fentanyl and xylazine affect breathing and brain signals
Official title: The effects of acute fentanyl and xylazine on neural respiratory centers
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11591259 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, patient-friendly study will look at how dangerous opioid and animal-sedative combinations affect breathing and brain activity, which could help doctors manage overdoses better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $454,402 |
| NIH project number | 1R56DA066990-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11591259 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient enrollment in this grant as described (preclinical/neuronal mechanism study).
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient participation is not described in this grant.
What this research studies
This project will explore how acute exposure to fentanyl and xylazine changes the brain’s control of breathing and related affective and attention-related behaviors. Researchers will use preclinical models to study the noradrenergic system in the brain’s breathing centers and how these drugs interact at different doses. By examining potential lasting changes in neural circuits, the study aims to map how these substances alter stress, sleep, and alertness pathways. The findings could inform quicker and safer reversal strategies and improve understanding of overdose risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better understanding of overdose biology and improved treatment approaches to prevent respiratory failure.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that fentanyl and related agents can have synergistic effects on respiration, with ongoing questions about long-lasting neural changes.
Where this research is happening
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Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcelligott, Zoe Anastasia — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Mcelligott, Zoe Anastasia
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.