T‑type calcium blockers and alpha‑lipoic acid to reduce pain after surgery
T-type Calcium Channel Inhibitors and Alpha Lipoic Acid as Novel Therapies for Treating Pain Post-surgery
This project sees whether blocking specific nerve calcium channels and using the supplement alpha‑lipoic acid can lower post‑surgical pain in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11213841 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing non‑opioid approaches that target T‑type calcium channels in pain nerves and testing the dietary supplement alpha‑lipoic acid (ALA) for pain relief. They use laboratory experiments and animal models of surgical injury to study how these channels make peripheral nerves and the spinal cord more excitable after surgery. The team plans to determine whether blocking these channels or giving ALA produces strong analgesia with fewer side effects than opioids. Promising preclinical results would support moving toward early human testing and safer post‑operative pain options.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults recovering from surgery who experience acute post‑operative pain and might be eligible for future clinical testing of non‑opioid therapies.
Not a fit: People without acute post‑surgical pain or whose pain stems from unrelated chronic conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could offer safer, more targeted pain relief after surgery and reduce reliance on opioids.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies, including mouse and rat models, have shown promising pain relief from ALA and T‑channel blockade, but human trials are limited.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Todorovic, Slobodan M. — VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Todorovic, Slobodan 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.