Long-term activation of the body's own pain-relief system in the spinal cord and brainstem
Official title: Long-term activation of endogenous opioid analgesia in spinal cord and medulla
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11429566 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at the University of Pittsburgh will test how the body's natural opioid system can stay active for a long time after pain or opioid exposure, with potential implications for better pain control.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $695,945 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA066553-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11429566 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with pain who have undergone surgery or who have chronic or recurrent pain conditions that involve the body's own analgesic systems could benefit in the long term.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without pain conditions or without relevance to endogenous analgesia mechanisms may be less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how our own opioid signals in the spinal cord and brainstem contribute to lasting pain relief after injury or repeated opioid use. Researchers will examine specific receptors and signaling pathways that may keep analgesia dormant and how sex and hormones influence this process. They plan to test whether blocking particular receptors can disrupt this long-term analgesia, using procedures that mimic surgical pain and opioid exposure, followed by targeted drug administration. The goal is to map the mechanisms that turn on or off endogenous pain control and identify potential targets for improved pain therapies in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to boost natural pain relief and reduce the need for external opioids.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that endogenous analgesia and MOR/KOR pathways can influence pain in humans, but this project tests deeper, sex-dependent mechanisms and sustained activation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Taylor, Bradley K. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Taylor, Bradley K.
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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.