Steroid-like anesthetics to reduce pain after surgery
Official title: Novel neurosteroid anesthetics and perioperative analgesia
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11182716 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Developing steroid-like anesthetic medicines that target nerve calcium channels to relieve pain for people recovering from surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $319,316 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM123746-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11182716 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People scheduled for surgery who are at risk of postoperative pain and want non-opioid perioperative pain options would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with chronic non-surgical pain, those with contraindications to steroid-like drugs, or patients outside the surgical care pathway may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project focuses on drug candidates called neuroactive steroids that block a specific nerve calcium channel (CaV3.2) which can make pain nerves overly sensitive after surgical injury. In lab and animal models the team gives these compounds around the time of surgery and measures nerve activity and pain behaviors to see if they prevent or reduce postoperative pain. The approach aims to provide targeted, peripheral pain relief so patients need fewer systemic opioids and experience fewer side effects. If results remain promising the work would progress toward testing these treatments in people having surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could provide targeted, non-opioid pain relief after surgery with fewer side effects and less risk of addiction.
How similar studies have gone: Similar preclinical work, including this team's rodent perioperative pain models, has shown promising pain relief, but human clinical testing remains limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jevtovic-Todorovic, Vesna — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Jevtovic-Todorovic, Vesna
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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.