Targeting Neuropeptide S Receptor 1 to Reduce Opioid Dependence
Official title: Neuropeptide S Receptor 1 as a Novel Target for Reducing Opioid Self-Administration and Opioid Relapse
Funded at University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr · NIH-11036641 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to help people with opioid use disorder by using a special receptor to reduce anxiety and stress, which can lead to cravings for opioids, and it aims to do this without making you feel sleepy like some other treatments do.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $423,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DA062022-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11036641 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals struggling with opioid dependence or those at risk of relapse.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not dependent on opioids or who do not experience anxiety related to opioid withdrawal may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how Neuropeptide S Receptor 1 (NPSR1) can be targeted to help reduce opioid self-administration and relapse in individuals with opioid use disorder. The approach focuses on using NPS to alleviate anxiety and stress, which are common triggers for opioid-seeking behavior. By activating NPSR1, the research aims to provide an anxiolytic effect without the sedative side effects associated with current treatments. The study will utilize both animal models and human data to explore the effectiveness of this novel treatment strategy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly reduce opioid cravings and relapse rates in patients with opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: While similar approaches have shown promise in treating alcohol dependence, the specific application of NPS for opioid use disorder is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tunstall, Brendan — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Tunstall, Brendan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social stress and smoking: why disadvantaged young adults struggle to quit
This grant looks at how daily social stress affects if and when disadvantaged young adults who smoke can quit and stay quit.
-
Learning from remission and relapse in lupus (SLE)
Researchers are studying people with systemic lupus erythematosus who are in long-term remission without steroids or immunosuppressants to understand their immune cells, brain function, and what might predict relapse.
-
Learning from Remission and Relapse in SLE
A program to study people with systemic lupus erythematosus who are in long-term remission to understand immune and brain signals that might predict relapse.
-
Alternative NF-kB activation after chemotherapy in ovarian cancer
This grant studies how ovarian cancer might come back after chemotherapy by looking at specific signaling pathways in cancer cells and the tumor environment.
-
Predictors of autoimmunity onset and relapse in skin
A study to understand what biological signals in skin predict when autoimmune diseases start, flare, or worsen in people at risk.
-
Determinants of TB Control, Relapse, and Reinfection
A large, multi-year study aims to understand why some people who are treated for TB still have persistent infection or relapse, with the goal of improving prevention and treatment.
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.