IV ketamine vs morphine for acute pain in children
Official title: Efficacy of intravenous sub-dissociative ketamine versus intravenous morphine in children with acute pain.
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11401174 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new comparison in kids with acute pain will test whether a low-dose IV ketamine works as well as IV morphine for pain relief and safety in the emergency department.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,193,679 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HD116253-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401174 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children and adolescents with moderate to severe acute pain presenting to the ED who are eligible for IV analgesia and do not have contraindications to ketamine or morphine.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with pain etiologies or medical conditions that preclude ketamine or morphine use may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This U01-funded study from Columbia University will compare sub-dissociative IV ketamine to standard IV morphine to treat moderate to severe acute pain in children and adolescents. Researchers will enroll patients presenting to the emergency department and assess pain relief, safety, and potential short- and long-term benefits. The study uses rigorous clinical protocols to monitor adverse events and analgesic outcomes, aiming to provide clearer guidance on safer and effective pain management in young patients. If ketamine provides similar pain control with fewer serious side effects, it could change practice and reduce opioid exposure for children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, children with acute pain could receive effective relief with fewer opioid-related risks, improving safety and comfort in the ED.
How similar studies have gone: Previous adult studies show sub-dissociative ketamine can provide effective analgesia with a favorable safety profile, but pediatric data are less definitive and this study seeks to extend that evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tsze, Daniel Sing-Kwong — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Tsze, Daniel Sing-Kwong
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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.