Award
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities 5U54MD007582-41
Research Project-2: Functionally Selective Ligands Targeting 5-HT7 Receptor as Potential Antinociceptive Agents
Recipient
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Award Amount
$278,518.00
Ceiling
$278,518.00
Awarded
May 04, 2026
Identifier
5U54MD007582-41
The award funds research on 5-HT7 receptor ligands as potential non-opioid treatments for neuropathic pain and related conditions, focusing on optimizing lead compounds and evaluating their efficacy and drug-like properties.
Description
This project explores the role of 5-HT7 receptor (5-HT7R) agonists in treating neuropathic pain, memory, cognition, sleep disorders, and substance abuse. It hypothesizes that ligands recruiting β-arrestin to 5-HT7R could produce antinociceptive effects as alternatives to opioids. The project aims to optimize a high-affinity lead compound, evaluate its drug-like properties including brain permeability, and assess its efficacy in vivo for pain relief.