Opioid analgesia impacts on neurological development (OPAL)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The long-term impact of opioid analgesia on children and young people on long-term neurological development.
IRAS ID
367270
Contact name
Ben Marson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
Background: Pain in childhood – whether from injuries like fractures or long-term conditions like scoliosis – is often treated with opioid medicines. These drugs are effective for pain relief. Recent research suggests that they may affect brain development if given during key stages of growth. This study will explore how different types of pain and opioid use impact brain activity in children using a child-friendly brain scan called OPM-MEG.
Objectives:
1. To compare brain oscillatory activity (in regions such as the somatosensory cortex, insula and prefrontal cortex) such as gamma and beta-band activity in children with different pain and opioid exposure profiles
2. To investigate the relationships between brain activity and clinical features, including subjective pain ratings, pain sensitivity, and psychological outcomes (e.g. trauma symptoms, distress).
Experimental plan: 30 children. Participants will be recruited from musculoskeletal clinics (e.g. orthopaedic, sport medicine or spine). Participants will attend a single visit, which may coincides with their follow-up appointment to orthopaedics or at an alternate convenient time. The visit will take approximately 1-1.5 hours and consist of recording brain activity using the child-friendly OPM-MEG (like a bicycle helmet) during rest and in response to a variety of sensory stimuli and completing questionnaires.
Impact: Understanding how pain and treatment shape the developing brain could help improve future care, reduce long-term effects, and support safer pain management strategies for children and young people.REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/PR/0234
Date of REC Opinion
21 Apr 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion