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Tabernanthalog as a dual treatment for chronic pain and opioid use disorder

Award Number: F32DA065349
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 11/30/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/29/2027

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Tabernanthalog as a dual treatment for chronic pain and opioid use disorder - PROJECT SUMMARY Opioid use disorder (OUD) and chronic pain are two debilitating conditions that are often co-morbid and highly prevalent in the United States. Despite contraindications, opioid based therapies are still frequently prescribed for chronic pain. While effective for acute pain treatment, prolonged opioid use, as is seen in the treatment of chronic pain conditions, can exacerbate pain symptoms and contribute to OUD. There is a critical need for novel therapies that address both pain and OUD. Recent studies suggest that psychedelics and related serotonergic compounds may offer such dual benefits. However, the consciousness-perturbing and hallucinatory effects of classical psychedelics as well as their cardiotoxic side effects may limit their therapeutic utility. Tabernanthalog (TBG), a non-hallucinogenic, non-rewarding and non-cardiotoxic psychedelic-inspired compound is a promising candidate for future therapeutic use in conditions of comorbid OUD and chronic pain. Our lab has demonstrated that TBG reduces opioid reward and relapse to opioid-seeking in rodent models. My preliminary work further suggests that TBG alleviates acute thermal nociception and chronic inflammatory pain. This proposal aims to expand on these findings through two objectives by 1) investigating the mechanisms whereby TBG provides chronic pain relief and potential opioid-sparing analgesic effects 2) assessing whether TBG is capable of reducing pain-augmented opioid seeking in a translationally relevant opioid self-administration model. Together, these studies will help establish TBG's as a novel dual therapy for comorbid chronic pain and OUD while elucidating its mechanisms for antinociception. Ultimately this work will serve as a foundation for future research into the broad therapeutic applications of TBG for OUD and chronic pain.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $78,508 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM	701 S 20TH STREET	BIRMINGHAM	AL	35294	JEFFERSON	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	6/3/2026	NEW	$78,508
														Subtotal = $78,508

Grand Total All Awards = $78,508

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Tabernanthalog as a dual treatment for chronic pain and opioid use disorder

Award Number: F32DA065349

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 11/30/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/29/2027

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