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Neuropharmacology

Opium poppy and its active ingredient morphine have been used for their constipative, painrelieving and euphoric properties for centuries. We now know that both endogenous and exogenous neurologically active compounds bind to families of structurally related neuroreceptors — each being associated with a different pharmacological activity. Finding potent compounds that bind specifically to a desired receptor will lead to effective, new pharmaceuticals without addictive properties.

Research Focus
Our neuropharmacologists have long been involved in research to understand the receptor-based relationship between analgesia and addiction and to discover nonaddicting analgesics.

Our current research focuses on understanding the relationship between the structures and functions of the opiate receptors and that of the recently discovered opiate-like receptor ORL1. SRIís Dr. Lawrence Toll was part of an international team that discovered nociceptin/orphanin FQ, the endogenous ligand for ORL1 (Meunier et al. Nature, 1995, 377, 532-535). We are currently investigating the discovery of novel, potent small-molecule agonist and antagonist ORL1 ligands to help establish the endogenous function of ORL1.

In related research to understand the molecular basis for addiction, we study the receptor pharmacology of addictive compounds, including opiates and cocaine analogs. We conduct basic and applied research under grants and contracts from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and generate substantial amounts of receptor binding data, which is made available to the research community.

In addition to working on drug abuse, we perform collaborative research with commercial clients to evaluate and help develop new therapeutics for treating chronic and acute pain, erectile dysfunction, ischemia and other receptor-related disorders.

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       Last Updated Jan 25, 2010