Where Science Meets Snouts
Researchers at Duke University and NC State are using dogs to study chronic pain as part of an NIH-funded initiative to reduce opioid reliance. The study uses cognitive testing to measure pain levels in dogs, aiming to develop better pain management treatments for both pets and humans.
Why it matters
Developing non-opioid pain management models is a critical priority for medical research to combat the global opioid crisis.
Ricky Bobby, Elwood, Lexi Lemon, Ginger, Max, Sully, Ziggy, Zelda, and Pop Tart - each of these dogs has its own story, gait and personality. But they're more than just pets. They're integral to a five-year research project aimed at deepening our understanding of chronic pain in dogs that live alongside us, sleep on our couches, and grow older with us.
For decades, pain research has relied heavily on rodent models. But an initiative by the National Institutes of Health to reduce reliance on opioids by humans is pushing scientists toward non-rodent models that better reflect human chronic pain.
It's called the Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative (HEAL), and Duke University's Canine Cognition Center and NC State are collaborating. NC State conducts medical workups and assessments of emotional state, while the Cognition Center focuses on testing memory, problem-solving, and self-control.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in