Understanding how pain and breathing are connected in the brain
Official title: Dissociating respiratory depression and analgesia via a data-driven model of interacting respiratory and pain networks
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11055384 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how pain and breathing affect each other, especially when using opioids for pain relief, and aims to find safer ways to manage pain without making it hard to breathe.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $101,477 |
| NIH project number | 5K01DA058543-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11055384 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who experience chronic pain and may require opioid treatment for pain relief.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use opioids or do not experience pain-related conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the complex interactions between pain and respiration, particularly how opioids can relieve pain but also cause dangerous respiratory depression. The study aims to develop a data-driven model to better understand these interactions and identify potential therapeutic strategies that can alleviate pain without compromising breathing. By analyzing brainstem circuits and using computational modeling, the research seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms of opioid effects on both pain relief and respiratory function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer pain management strategies that minimize the risk of respiratory depression in patients using opioids.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding the interactions between pain and respiration, but this specific approach using data-driven modeling is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Phillips, Ryan Sean — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Phillips, Ryan Sean
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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.