Project Grant R61NS138215

This $1,563,778 Project Grant awarded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279) will fund research to develop equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT1) inhibitors as a novel, non-opioid approach for treating neuropathic pain. The key objectives are to: 1) validate the role of ENT1 as a target for neuropathic pain in vivo; 2) characterize a new ENT1 inhibitor compound called JH-ENT-01 in vitro and ex vivo; and 3) develop improved in vitro screening assays. This foundational research aims to lay the groundwork for a future U19 grant application to further advance the development of these ENT1 inhibitors as potential non-addictive pain therapeutics, addressing the critical public health need for new pain management alternatives. The award was made to Duke University's Office of Research Administration Division, which will oversee and provide administrative support for executing this multidisciplinary research project over the 2-year project period from September 2024 to August 2026.