Turning on a neck oxygen sensor to prevent fentanyl-caused breathing slowdown
opioid receptor activation of the carotid body mitigates OIRD by fentanyl
This project aims to see if activating specific kappa-opioid receptors in the carotid body (a small neck oxygen sensor) can stop fentanyl from slowing breathing while keeping pain relief.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192925 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how fentanyl affects the carotid body, a tiny chemoreceptor in the neck that helps drive breathing, using experiments in mice and rats. They will map where kappa-opioid receptors are located in the carotid body and record nerve activity and breathing responses. At the cell level they will measure calcium signals in glomus cells to understand the signaling pathway involved. The team will test whether giving a kappa-opioid agonist together with fentanyl keeps breathing normal without reducing fentanyl's pain-relief effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who use fentanyl for pain or who are at risk of fentanyl overdose would be the eventual candidates for therapies developed from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose breathing problems are unrelated to opioid effects or who cannot take kappa-opioid–acting drugs are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that prevent fatal fentanyl-induced breathing depression while preserving pain relief.
How similar studies have performed: Early animal data reported by the investigators suggest kappa-opioid activation of the carotid body can prevent opioid-induced respiratory depression, but this approach has not yet been tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prabhakar, Nanduri R — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Prabhakar, Nanduri R
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.