Spinal non-opioid treatment targeting NTSR2 and calcium channels for severe chronic pain
Dissection of NTSR2/calcium channel signaling as a non-opioid spinal analgesic mechanism for the treatment of high impact chronic pain
A non-opioid spinal treatment that acts on the NTSR2 receptor and calcium channels to help people with severe chronic pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11270632 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how activating the spinal neurotensin receptor NTSR2 can block calcium channels that carry pain signals, using a peptide related to snail venom called Contulakin-G. They will use animal pain models, lab studies of spinal neurons and channels, and build on earlier small human safety/pilot data to map the mechanism and check for tolerance or motor side effects. The work focuses on finding a spinal drug that gives strong pain relief without the tolerance, psychosis, or motor block seen with some current intrathecal drugs. If successful, the findings would guide the development of safer intrathecal therapies for people with high-impact chronic pain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with high-impact, treatment-resistant chronic spinal or neuropathic pain (for example spinal cord injury–related pain) would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People with short-term acute pain, mild episodic pain, or pain conditions not driven by spinal pathways are unlikely to benefit from this spinal-targeted approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to a new non-opioid spinal therapy that relieves severe chronic pain with fewer side effects like tolerance or motor block.
How similar studies have performed: A small Phase 1A pilot showed analgesic effects of Contulakin-G in spinal cord injury pain and animal studies support the NTSR2–Cav2.3/2.2 mechanism, but the overall approach is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patwardhan, Amol M — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Patwardhan, Amol M
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 below.