Improving pain management for children undergoing major surgeries
Official title: Implementing and Personalizing Best-In-Class Opioid-sparing Pain Management for Major Inpatient Surgeries in Children
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10990745 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to create personalized pain relief plans for kids having major surgeries, like heart or spine operations, using a special method that helps reduce the need for strong pain medications, making recovery safer and easier for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $3,404,830 |
| NIH project number | 1U01HD116257-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10990745 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-21 who are scheduled for cardiac surgery or spine fusion procedures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing major surgeries or those outside the age range of 0-21 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing and implementing personalized pain management protocols for children undergoing major surgeries, specifically cardiac and spine fusion procedures. It aims to utilize a multidose methadone-based approach as part of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol, which will be tailored to individual patient needs. By investigating the efficacy and safety of these protocols, the research seeks to minimize opioid use and its associated risks, such as dependence and chronic pain. The study will involve multiple centers and will prioritize safe and effective pain relief strategies for pediatric patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce opioid use and its negative side effects in children recovering from major surgeries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using personalized pain management approaches, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sadhasivam, Senthilkumar — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Sadhasivam, Senthilkumar
Related research
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Coordinated pain care using technology in community clinics
A large, real-world study will test a coordinated, multi-component pain care plan in community health centers to help people with chronic musculoskeletal pain get non-opioid and holistic treatments.
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A Stanford-backed plan helps people who already take opioids before spine surgery to taper safely after surgery and get non-opioid pain relief.
-
Gut microbiome targets to ease sickle cell pain in patients
Researchers are studying how gut microbes affect chronic pain in people with sickle cell disease and how penicillin prophylaxis in babies might change pain pathways.
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.