Developing Novel Neuroreceptor And Channel Therapies For Pain And Addiction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$808,375.00
Summary
Chronic pain is a growing and poorly treated global health burden. There is a great need for novel pain therapeutics. We are discovering novel drug targets in pain pathways in the nervous system and new therapeutic molecules that selectively block information flow in pain nerves. Strong pain relieving drugs like morphine also lose their effectiveness after long periods of use. We are finding mechanisms responsible for this thereby providing a rational basis for development of better opioids and ....Chronic pain is a growing and poorly treated global health burden. There is a great need for novel pain therapeutics. We are discovering novel drug targets in pain pathways in the nervous system and new therapeutic molecules that selectively block information flow in pain nerves. Strong pain relieving drugs like morphine also lose their effectiveness after long periods of use. We are finding mechanisms responsible for this thereby providing a rational basis for development of better opioids and pain treatments.Read moreRead less
The Mechanisms Responsible For Tolerance At The Mu-opioid Receptor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$562,815.00
Summary
Strong pain relieving opioid drugs like morphine lose their effectiveness when used for long periods because the single protein target for them in the body loses its� normal signalling functions. This research will determine the mechanisms responsible for this loss of function in brain nerve cells using novel methods to identify the molecular adaptations involved. This will provide a rational framework for development of pain relieving opioid drugs that can maintain long term efficacy.