Using dronabinol to help reduce chronic pain and inflammation in sickle cell disease
Official title: Dronabinol for the reduction of chronic pain and inflammation in people with sickle cell disease
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11141011 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a medication called dronabinol, which contains THC, can help reduce chronic pain and inflammation in adults with sickle cell disease, and it will compare its effects to a placebo over eight weeks to see if it improves pain, quality of life, and safety for those who take it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $193,276 |
| NIH project number | 5K23HL151884-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11141011 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 associated with sickle cell disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have sickle cell disease or those who are not experiencing chronic pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of dronabinol, a THC-containing medication, on chronic pain and inflammation in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). The study will involve a placebo-controlled, double-masked design over eight weeks, where participants will receive either dronabinol or a placebo. The research aims to assess improvements in pain levels, quality of life, and inflammation markers, while also evaluating the safety and tolerability of the treatment. This approach seeks to provide evidence-based guidance for patients and healthcare providers regarding the use of cannabinoids for pain management in SCD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, effective treatment option for managing chronic pain in patients with sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: While cannabinoids have shown promise in treating chronic pain in other conditions, this specific approach in sickle cell disease is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Curtis, Susanna — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Curtis, Susanna
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Sickle cell pain: understanding patient-centered outcomes, new biomarkers, and long-term health effects
This study looks at how chronic pain in adults with sickle cell disease affects daily life and what biomarkers might reveal about long-term outcomes.
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Targeting chronic pain in sickle cell disease
This project is developing new drug approaches to reduce ongoing pain for people living with sickle cell disease.
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Using the Mediterranean diet to help reduce chronic pain in sickle cell disease
This study is looking at whether eating a Mediterranean diet can help reduce chronic pain for adults with sickle cell disease, and it involves trying out this diet for four weeks to see how it affects their health and pain levels.
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Understanding and treating chronic pain in sickle cell disease
This study is looking into how sickle cell disease causes chronic pain and aims to find better ways to help manage that pain for people living with the condition.
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Exploring how gut bacteria and inflammation affect pain in sickle cell disease
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might affect pain levels in people with sickle cell disease, with the hope of finding new ways to help manage pain without relying on opioids.
-
Digital twins of the spleen to help design better therapies for sickle cell disease
A computer-driven replica of the spleen is being developed to speed up creating safer and more effective treatments for people with sickle cell disease.
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.