Understanding how opioids affect breathing and identifying the brain cells that control our breath
Utilizing opioid receptor expression to identify the neurons and molecules responsible for opioid respiratory depression and basal breathing.
This work explores how opioids cause dangerously slow breathing and aims to find the specific brain cells responsible for both this effect and our normal breathing rhythm.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11117012 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Opioid overdose deaths due to slowed breathing are a growing concern, and this research seeks to make opioid use safer by understanding its effects on the body. We are looking into the specific brain cells in a region called the preBötzinger Complex that are affected by opioids and cause breathing to slow down. The goal is to pinpoint the exact type of neuron and the chemical signals involved in this process. We also hope to discover if these same special neurons are the primary 'pacemakers' that set our normal breathing pace, similar to how a pacemaker controls the heart.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit anyone who uses opioids for pain relief or is at risk of opioid-induced respiratory depression.
Not a fit: Patients not affected by opioid use or respiratory depression would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to use opioids more safely, preventing life-threatening breathing problems, and may also reveal fundamental insights into how our bodies control breathing.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown that opioids primarily affect specific receptors in the brain's breathing center, providing a foundation for this more detailed investigation.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yackle, Kevin — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Yackle, Kevin
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.