Improving tests for developing non-addictive pain medications
Official title: A Novel Assay to Improve Translation in Analgesic Drug Development
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-10985018 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new ways to test pain medications that help relieve pain without causing addiction, using clever tests on mice to better understand how pain affects daily activities, which could lead to safer pain relief options for patients like you in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $861,479 |
| NIH project number | 4R33NS133217-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10985018 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from acute pain conditions who are seeking effective pain management solutions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience acute pain or those who are already using effective pain management strategies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating better methods to evaluate new pain medications that do not lead to addiction. It aims to develop innovative behavioral tests that measure how pain affects normal activities in mice, rather than relying on traditional methods that may not accurately reflect pain experiences. By improving these tests, the research seeks to enhance the discovery of effective analgesics that can alleviate pain without the risk of addiction. Patients may benefit from the eventual development of safer pain relief options based on these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of safer, non-addictive pain medications for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing new pain assessment methods, but this approach is innovative and aims to address specific limitations of existing models.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Negus, Sidney S — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Negus, Sidney S
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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.