Using hypocretin antagonism to manage pain and reduce addiction risk
Official title: Maintaining opioid analgesia and preventing addiction with hypocretin antagonism
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11092882 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help people with severe pain using opioids while trying to reduce the chances of becoming addicted, by looking at how certain brain cells called hypocretin neurons affect pain and addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $561,974 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA058639-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11092882 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from severe pain who may require opioid treatment but are concerned about the risk of addiction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience severe pain or those who are already in recovery from opioid addiction may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new approach to manage severe pain using opioids while minimizing the risk of addiction. It focuses on the role of hypocretin neurons in the brain, which have been linked to addiction and pain perception. By antagonizing these neurons, the researchers aim to provide effective pain relief without the typical addictive side effects associated with opioid use. The study involves both animal models and human observations to understand the relationship between hypocretin levels and opioid addiction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer pain management options for patients requiring opioid analgesics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that targeting hypocretin neurons may be effective in managing addiction, suggesting a promising avenue for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Siegel, Jerome M — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Siegel, Jerome M
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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.