Advancing non-addictive pain relief drugs
October 27, 2025
Erin Wilson
Dr. Carolyn Fairbanks, associate dean for research and professor in pharmaceutics, leads a research team that has designed, synthesized, and characterized new molecules that could reduce chronic pain without the side effects often associated with opioids and other pain medications.
The research evolved through collaboration with both the Center for Drug Design (Dr. Herb Nagasawa) and the Institute for Therapeutics Discovery and Development (Dr. Gunda Georg). The project was initially supported by an Academic Health Center award followed by a gift from the Noble family to the College of Pharmacy. These seed grants engendered significant support by the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program and Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program.
Read the full article on the Research & Innovation Office website.
Media Contacts
Related Stories
Students used continuous glucose monitoring sensors and simulated insulin injections with syringes filled with saline to practice adjusting their own blood sugar, logging meals, and fulfilling responsibilities people with diabetes manage day-to-day.
Three of our students received their degrees in the latter half of this year.
Dr. Walters will start his tenure as Treasurer in January 2026.