Understanding how brain chemicals affect pain management
Official title: Midbrain cholinergic modulation of pain states
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11092197 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a brain chemical called acetylcholine affects pain signals, with the goal of finding new, safer ways to manage chronic pain without using opioids.
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 start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $406,518 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS133572-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11092197 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who suffer from chronic pain conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute pain or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of acetylcholine, a brain chemical, in modulating pain signals in the body. By examining how acetylcholine release changes in response to pain and other stimuli, the study aims to uncover new mechanisms of pain control. The researchers will use advanced techniques, including a fluorescent sensor and brain slice electrophysiology, to explore these dynamics and identify potential non-opioid therapies for chronic pain. This work is particularly important given the current opioid crisis and the need for safer pain management options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new, non-opioid treatments for chronic pain, reducing reliance on opioids and their associated risks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding pain modulation through neuromodulators, but this specific approach to acetylcholine dynamics in chronic pain is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcgehee, Daniel S — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Mcgehee, Daniel S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Education and violence: Can high-dosage tutoring reduce youth violence
A large study in Chicago schools will test whether high-dosage tutoring for students can lessen youth violence by improving learning and outcomes.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Lens proteins, cell stress, and cataracts in kids and adults
A study aims to understand how lens proteins and cellular stress contribute to cataracts, in both humans and mice, with the goal of guiding prevention or treatment.
-
Understanding how neurons keep their identity and function for life
Scientists are studying how nerve cells maintain their distinctive identity and function from development through aging, using human-derived neurons and a simple worm model to uncover the long-term control of brain cell behavior.
-
Cardiac Sarcomere Protein Quality Control in Health and Disease
A heart-focused study looking at how heart muscle proteins get misfolded and how the cell’s cleanup system might fix this to protect heart function.
-
Communication Bridge: Improving language therapy for people with primary progressive aphasia
A proven language-therapy program called Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia improve and maintain how they communicate with others.
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.