A Novel Drug for Treating Opioid Withdrawal

BC is experiencing an opioid crisis beset with an alarming number of overdoses and related deaths. Symptoms of withdrawal are a significant factor in perpetuating opioid addiction and a common cause of relapse. Therefore, treatments for withdrawal are highly desirable and commonly used in the first steps of opioid reduction strategies. Enkephalins are natural compounds in the body that have been previously identified to limit symptoms of withdrawal, but their instability has hindered their clinical application. In this study, a modified enkephalin analogue (KK-103) with improved stability will be evaluated in its ability to reduce withdrawal behaviors in mice models. The intern is expected to gain experience in the chemical synthesis of peptides, and the standard procedures, safety measures, and quality assurance standards pertaining to mice models, along with statistical analysis of the generated data. If successful, KK-103 could serve as a novel therapeutic treatment for opioid withdrawal by clinicians at VGH and contribute towards efforts combatting opioid-related deaths in BC.

Faculty Supervisor:

Shyh-Dar Li

Student:

Partner:

Vancouver General Hospital

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: