Non-opioid, non-addictive treatments for nerve (neuropathic) pain
Official title: Development of non-opioid, non-addictive analgesics for treating neuropathic pain
Funded at Northeastern University · NIH-11304476 · Data updated 2026-11-12
New non-opioid medicines designed to relieve nerve pain without causing addiction or psychoactive side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 18, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $620,928 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS137079-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11304476 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chronic neuropathic pain conditions (for example diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, or nerve-injury pain) seeking non-opioid treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
People whose pain is mainly inflammatory or musculoskeletal (such as arthritis) or those needing immediate symptom relief are less likely to benefit from these experimental candidates.
What this research studies
Researchers at Northeastern are designing and synthesizing novel drug molecules that act on cannabinoid receptors in a unique dual way to reduce neuropathic pain. The team will create and fine-tune N-arylindole and related compounds to produce CB1 allosteric agonist-positive allosteric modulators combined with CB2 agonist activity. Promising molecules will be tested for how well they relieve nerve pain, whether they produce tolerance or dependence, and what side effects they cause in laboratory and preclinical models. Multiple laboratories will share expertise to select candidates suitable for future human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could offer effective relief from neuropathic pain without opioid-like addiction, tolerance, or intoxication if a safe drug is developed.
How similar studies have gone: Traditional cannabinoid drugs have shown pain relief but often cause psychoactive effects and some CB2 agents failed in trials, so this dual-action, non-psychoactive approach is largely novel and untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeastern University
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thakur, Ganesh a — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Thakur, Ganesh a
Related research
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Parmodulins with Low Abuse Potential for Neuropathic Pain
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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.