Ultrasound-triggered ketamine release to target brain pain circuits
Official title: Clinical Translation of Ultrasonic Ketamine Uncaging for Non-Opioid Therapy of Chronic Pain
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11379707 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Using focused ultrasound to release tiny amounts of ketamine directly in a specific brain area to relieve long-term chronic pain without opioids for people with persistent pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2019 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $19,301 |
| NIH project number | 3UG3NS115637-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379707 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults with chronic, treatment‑resistant pain for whom standard therapies (including opioids) have not provided adequate relief.
✕Less likely to help
People whose pain is driven primarily by ongoing peripheral tissue damage, who have contraindications to ketamine or brain ultrasound, or who need immediate systemic analgesia may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses ultrasound-sensitive, biodegradable nanoparticles that carry ketamine and release it only where focused ultrasound is applied. The team aims the release at the anterior cingulate cortex, a brain region linked to chronic pain, so the drug works locally rather than throughout the whole body. In lab and animal tests this approach produced pain‑relief effects, and the work now focuses on steps needed to move the method toward clinical use in people. The goal is to create a noninvasive, targeted treatment that reduces pain with fewer off‑target side effects than systemic ketamine or opioids.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide long‑lasting, non‑opioid pain relief with fewer systemic side effects by delivering ketamine only where the brain is generating pain signals.
How similar studies have gone: Local ACC therapies and ketamine treatments have shown promise, but ultrasound-triggered drug uncaging is a novel technique with limited human data so far.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Airan, Raag D — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Airan, Raag D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Ultrasound-triggered ketamine delivery to a brain region to treat chronic pain
A Stanford team is testing a new way to give ketamine exactly where it’s needed in the brain to relieve chronic pain without opioids.
-
Using ultrasound to activate ketamine for treating chronic pain without opioids
This study is looking at a new way to help people with chronic pain by using sound waves to activate ketamine in the brain, aiming to ease the emotional struggles that come with pain and improve overall treatment, which could also help those dealing with opioid use issues.
-
Using sound waves to deliver non-opioid pain relief for chronic pain
This research explores a new way to deliver a non-opioid medication, ketamine, directly to a specific brain area using ultrasound to help people with chronic pain.
-
Motor cortex tricks to ease chronic pain
A study in rodents and people tests whether non-invasive brain stimulation of the motor cortex can reduce chronic pain and how best to target it.
-
Human pain center study to map normal and migraine-trigeminal neurons
A large NIH-funded project will map and study the human trigeminal neurons involved in migraines to understand what changes in these cells during headache conditions.
-
Understanding human pain neurons to improve migraine care
Researchers are studying human pain-sensing neurons to uncover what makes migraine start and persist, with the goal of better treatments for people who experience migraines.
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.