Northeastern University has received a USD 1.43 million renewal of a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) program project grant supporting cannabinoid receptor drug discovery, extending federal backing for a research effort led by Alexandros Makriyannis that has operated continuously since 1994.
The program focuses on structure-guided development of compounds targeting the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, with applications in pain, addiction, inflammation, and fibrotic disease. Researchers will build on advances in receptor structural biology to design more selective cannabinoid modulators, including compounds intended to enhance endogenous cannabinoid signaling while minimizing the psychoactive effects associated with direct receptor activation.
A key objective is the development of functionally selective ligands that can preferentially engage beneficial signaling pathways while avoiding mechanisms linked to adverse effects. The project will also explore CB2-targeted compounds and dual-action molecules designed to modulate both cannabinoid receptors.
The renewal reflects continued interest in cannabinoid biology as a source of novel therapeutic approaches. While several cannabinoid-related medicines have reached the market, highly selective CB2 therapies and CB1 positive allosteric modulators remain largely experimental. Advances in cryo-electron microscopy and other structural biology techniques have accelerated efforts to design more precise receptor-targeted drugs.