A new federal funding opportunity from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will use $8.4 million to support clinical trials on the safety and efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy to treat chronic pain in older adults.
An NIH notice of funding opportunity posted on Wednesday says the research can include “classic” psychedelics—including psilocybin, DMT, LSD and mescaline—as well as similar compounds such as MDMA. Cannabis and ketamine are not considered psychedelics for the purposes of the clinical trials.
“Approximately 40% of older Americans report living with chronic pain,” the funding notice says, with treatment of pain later in life—involving acetaminophen, NSAIDs, opioids and other drugs, along with behavioral therapy, physical activity, acupuncture and electrical stimulation— being “complex and often inadequate.”
“A potential novel approach to treatment of chronic pain in adults involves psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT),” it continues. “Research with psychedelics was inspired by millennia of Indigenous experience incorporating sacred plant medicines in ceremonial healing practices.”
More recently, the notice says, “Evidence for the efficacy of PAT has been particularly notable in depression, anxiety (especially existential distress), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders, among other indications.”
The grant, which will be overseen by NIH component agencies the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), will award up to $3.4 million per year in fiscal 2025–2026 and up to $5 million per year in fiscal 2027–2029. The broad range of eligible organizations includes colleges and universities, nonprofits, for-profit businesses, state or local governments, federal agencies and others, such as school districts or tribal organizations. Safety and Early Efficacy Studies of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Chronic Pain in Older Adults (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required) https://t.co/QQJ84LcfkJ — NIH Funding (@NIHFunding) April 24, 2024 The new funding is aimed at supporting a “clinical trials network involving multiple institutions collecting safety and early efficacy data” among older people with chronic pain.
“The first phase will involve safety and efficacy study in older adults, and the second phase will involve expanded safety and efficacy studies in older adults with chronic pain conditions,” the NIH posting says. “This funding structure is expected to lead to […]
Feds Announce Plan To Fund Research On Using Psychedelics To Treat Chronic Pain In Older Adults
