Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Florida's Division of Sponsored Research received a $603,019 Project Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders program (CFDA 93.853), awarded July 1, 2026, with a completion date of June 30, 2031. The grant funds research focused on the optimization of Rev-erb (REV-ERB) agonists as a novel therapeutic approach for chronic inflammatory pain (CIP). This project advances the development of high-affinity REV-ERB agonist compounds previously demonstrated to possess analgesic activity in animal models of inflammatory pain while exhibiting minimal abuse potential compared to opioid therapies.

The primary deliverable is the optimization and characterization of a series of REV-ERB agonist compounds with the goal of identifying candidate molecules suitable for entry into Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies that would support progression to clinical development. The research addresses a significant public health need, as approximately 20 million Americans receive inadequate treatment for chronic pain annually at an estimated cost of $600 billion in lost productivity and healthcare expenditures. By developing non-addictive analgesics targeting the REV-ERB pathway, this research offers a potential alternative to current therapies—including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and opioids—which are limited by efficacy constraints or severe adverse effects including respiratory depression and substance dependence.