CMSRU researcher awarded $2.3 million NIDA grant to study novel approaches to reducing opioid abuse liability

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU) is proud to announce that Amanda Fakira, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical sciences, has been awarded a prestigious R01 grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a federal scientific research institute under the National Institutes of Health. The $2.3 million federal grant, distributed over five years, will fund Dr. Fakira’s groundbreaking research on targeting the PEN-GPR83 pathway to reduce opioid abuse liability while enhancing pain relief.

The opioid crisis has highlighted the urgent need for new strategies that manage pain effectively without leading to addiction. Dr. Fakira’s research focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms in the brain that mediate the balance between the pain-relieving and addictive properties of opioids. By studying how the PEN-GPR83 system interacts with opioid receptors in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) region of the brain, Dr. Fakira aims to uncover new therapeutic targets that could make opioid medications safer for patients.

 “This research has the potential to redefine how we think about pain management and opioid use. By understanding how PEN-GPR83 affects opioid reward and pain relief, we hope to develop more effective treatments that reduce the risk of addiction,” said Dr. Fakira. “The support from NIDA will allow us to explore these mechanisms in-depth and move closer to clinical applications.”

Darren Boehning, PhD, CMSRU associate dean for research, expressed his excitement about the award and its impact on CMSRU’s research mission. “Dr. Fakira’s R01 grant is a remarkable achievement that underscores the strength and growth of our research program at CMSRU. This type of high-level, competitive funding enables our faculty to pursue innovative and impactful projects that address some of the most pressing challenges in medicine today, such as the opioid epidemic.”

The study will employ advanced techniques in neuroanatomy, electrophysiology, and imaging to unravel how PEN-GPR83 interacts with opioid receptors, with the ultimate goal of validating new strategies to reduce opioid addiction risk while maintaining effective pain relief.

 “Dr. Fakira’s work represents the kind of cutting-edge research that has the potential to change lives,” added CMSRU Dean Annette C. Reboli, MD. “CMSRU is incredibly proud to support Dr. Fakira’s efforts, and we look forward to the impact her discoveries will have on combating the opioid crisis and improving patient care.”

With this significant grant, CMSRU continues to solidify its role as a leader in biomedical research, advancing solutions to critical healthcare challenges on both a local and national scale.