Targeting α9α10 nicotinic receptors to treat neuropathic pain
Official title: α9α10 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in neuropathic pain
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11375425 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project is exploring a new drug target in nerves to help people with neuropathic pain who don’t get good relief from opioids or other non-opioid medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $624,360 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS134647-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11375425 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a current patient trial; the research involves preclinical work with humans as sources of data and potential future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Current patients with neuropathic pain may not directly benefit until therapies are developed and tested in humans.
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago will study how blocking the α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor affects neuropathic pain. The work aims to overcome past drug-development challenges and advance potential antagonists that could become safer, effective non-opioid treatments. This project will involve laboratory experiments designed to understand the receptor’s role in pain signals and to optimize compounds for better drug-like properties. The ultimate goal is to move promising candidates toward clinical testing so patients with neuropathic pain may have new treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new non-opioid medicines that reduce neuropathic pain with fewer adverse effects.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies and genetic models suggest α9α10 blockade reduces pain-like symptoms, but translating to humans requires new, safer compounds.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Riley, Andrew — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Riley, Andrew
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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.