Testosterone Replacement to Reduce Pain for Men with Opioid-Related Low Testosterone
Official title: Androgen Replacement to Improve Patient-Important Outcomes in Men with Opioid-Induced Hypogonadism
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10904002 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether giving physiologic testosterone helps reduce pain for men who are on opioid medications and have low testosterone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $808,444 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG066921-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10904002 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult men on chronic opioid therapy who have or are suspected to have opioid-induced hypogonadism and consent to testosterone treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Men without opioid-induced hypogonadism or with contraindications to testosterone may not benefit.
What this research studies
Many men on long-term opioids have low testosterone, which may worsen pain. The study will examine whether restoring normal testosterone levels can lessen pain and improve quality of life in these patients. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital will enroll men on opioid therapy and administer testosterone in a carefully monitored way to measure pain, function, and well-being. The goal is to determine if testosterone replacement can break the cycle of higher opioid needs by alleviating pain more effectively.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience less pain and potentially reduce the need for higher opioid doses.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary small trials suggested pain and quality-of-life improvements with testosterone, but larger, adequately powered trials are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Basaria, Shehzad — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Basaria, Shehzad
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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.