Investigating how a brain circuit affects anesthesia and pain relief
Official title: Role of orexin/hypocretin circuit in anesthesia and analgesia
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10651642 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a part of the brain that helps control sleep and wakefulness can be used to make anesthesia safer and more comfortable, especially by finding ways to help people recover better and feel less pain after surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $199,098 |
| NIH project number | 5K08GM138981-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10651642 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are scheduled for surgical procedures and may require anesthesia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing surgery or do not require anesthesia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of the orexin circuit in the brain, which is believed to regulate sleep and wakefulness, in the context of anesthesia and pain management. The study aims to understand how anesthetics interact with this neural network, particularly focusing on how activating specific neurons can improve recovery from anesthesia and provide pain relief. Using advanced techniques like optogenetics, the researchers will manipulate these neurons and observe their effects on anesthesia and analgesia in animal models. This could lead to new methods for enhancing patient comfort during and after surgical procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved anesthesia techniques and better pain management for patients undergoing surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the role of brain circuits in anesthesia, suggesting that this approach could lead to significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Wei — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Wei
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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.