Parabrachial Nucleus Cells and Breathing in Hypoxia, Hypercarbia, and Opioids
Official title: Project 1: Role of parabrachial neurons in response to hypoxia, hypercapnia, and OIRD
Funded at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11415638 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how specific brain cells control breathing and waking during low oxygen or high carbon dioxide, and how opioids affect these processes, with the goal of safer treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $375,155 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL149630-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415638 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with conditions affecting breathing control or sleep-disordered breathing who may benefit from safer interventions in the future.
✕Less likely to help
People without breathing control issues or opioid exposure may not directly benefit from this basic neuroscience research.
What this research studies
This project looks at special brain cells in the parabrachial region that help wake someone up and drive breathing when oxygen or CO2 change, including during sleep apnea and opioid overdose. Researchers will map which genes are active in these cells and how they respond when breathing is challenged, using advanced sequencing and imaging techniques in animal models. They also plan to test whether targeting these cells or their pathways could improve respiration and outcomes for patients affected by sleep-disordered breathing or OIRD. The work progresses in stages, starting with identifying cell types and receptor targets, then observing real-time neuronal activity during brief hypoxia/hypercarbia, and finally applying pharmacological manipulations. The ultimate goal is to translate these findings toward safer, more effective therapies for at-risk patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new ways to prevent dangerous breathing problems and improve recovery during sleep-disordered breathing and opioid-related respiratory depression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that specific brainstem circuits influence breathing and arousal, and this project builds on those findings with deeper cellular and functional insight.
Where this research is happening
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saper, Clifford B — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Saper, Clifford B
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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.