Serotonin brain circuits to support breathing during opioids and sleep problems
Official title: Serotonergic circuit mechanisms to enhance upper airway tone and respiration in the setting of opioids and sleep-disordered breathing.
Funded at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11312050 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant investigates how specific serotonin-producing brain cells can help keep breathing and airway muscles working when people take opioids and have sleep-disordered breathing, without affecting pain relief.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,738,060 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL178578-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11312050 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who need opioid pain relief and experience sleep-disordered breathing or respiratory risks could benefit from future therapies emerging from this work.
✕Less likely to help
This research is preclinical and may not directly help patients right away; translation to therapies will take time.
What this research studies
The researchers will study targeted serotonin neuron subtypes in the brainstem to see how they influence airway tone and breathing in the presence of opioids. They have preliminary data suggesting these neurons can bypass opioid sensitivity while improving respiration, which could reduce sleep-related breathing issues in patients using opioids. The work will use animal models to map which neuron subtypes affect respiration versus airway tone and test how activating them changes breathing during sleep-like states. Findings could guide future therapies that protect breathing in patients who need opioids for pain. The project aims to balance maintaining analgesia while reducing dangerous respiratory side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new approaches that prevent opioid-related breathing problems during sleep while preserving pain relief.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that specific brain circuits can influence breathing without altering pain control, suggesting a plausible path forward.
Where this research is happening
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vanderhorst, Veronique — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Vanderhorst, Veronique
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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.