Pullman, Wash.-based Washington State University received a $7.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the effects of kratom on chronic pain, sleep and quality of life.
The five-year project will examine how kratom works, its potential benefits and associated risks, according to an Oct. 26 news release from the university.
Mary Paine, PhD, a professor in the university’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, will lead the research team, which includes scientists from Washington State University, the University of Arizona in Tucson and the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
Researchers will study a purified form of kratom in mouse models before conducting a human sleep study involving patients with chronic low back pain. Findings will inform the design of future clinical efficacy trials.
Kratom, a botanical marketed as a pain reliever and alternative to opioids, is not approved by the FDA for any medical use. The substance carries risks of addiction and overdose, and the FDA has warned consumers against using kratom products.
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