Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awarded a $423,500 Project Grant to the Regents of the University of Minnesota, Office of Sponsored Projects Administration, effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2028, under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279). This award funds preclinical neuropharmacological research investigating the interactions between xylazine, a 2-adrenergic receptor (2AR) agonist increasingly incorporated into illicit fentanyl supplies, and fentanyl in rodent models. The research will characterize mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects and adverse outcomes associated with combined xylazine-fentanyl use.

The primary deliverables include comprehensive neuropharmacological evaluation of xylazine-fentanyl interactions across multiple preclinical models, including assessments of analgesia, sedation, opioid tolerance, withdrawal, and self-administration behavior. The project is structured around two specific aims: defining the neuropharmacological mechanisms of xylazine alone and in combination with fentanyl, and determining xylazine's impact on oral fentanyl self-administration. The research leverages the University of Minnesota's established expertise with 2AR agonist pharmacology and fentanyl self-administration models to generate foundational knowledge that will advance understanding of this emerging drug interaction threat and inform public health responses to substance use and addiction.