From Barnyard to Breakthrough: How Veterinary Scientists Are Advancing the Fight Against Opioid Overdose
A groundbreaking partnership between veterinary researchers and medical scientists at the University of Minnesota is offering new hope in the nation’s battle against opioid overdose. With overdose deaths in the U.S. still exceeding 100,000 annually, veterinary medicine is playing an unexpected but critical role in helping to develop lifesaving tools like vaccines and medical devices.
At the center of this innovative research is Dr. Alonso Guedes, a professor of anesthesia and associate dean for research at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). When human medical researchers approached Guedes in 2020 for help studying how opioids affect the body, he knew pigs would be key—but there was a problem.
“Pigs are incredibly similar to humans in many ways, especially in immune function,” says Guedes. “But they aren’t naturally sensitive to the respiratory effects of opioids. That made it difficult to study interventions like overdose-reversal tools.”
So Guedes and his team engineered a solution: a novel model that makes pigs respond to opioids like humans do. This advancement has since become a global research standard, helping scientists develop and test new ways to prevent and treat overdose.
A Vaccine to Prevent Opioid Overdose?
One of the most promising breakthroughs involves vaccines designed for people with opioid use disorder (OUD)—especially those at high risk of relapse. These vaccines don’t treat addiction itself but train the immune system to block the effects of opioids like fentanyl before they reach the brain.
“It’s like dressing up fentanyl to stick out in a crowd,” explains Guedes. “The immune system sees it, builds antibodies, and blocks it before it can do harm.”
The vaccines are drug-specific, meaning a vaccine targeting fentanyl won’t interfere with medically necessary pain relief from other drugs.
Thanks to Guedes’ pig model, early results are encouraging. The team is now conducting toxicology studies—a crucial final step before seeking FDA approval for human trials.
High-Tech Response for Overdose Emergencies
What happens when an overdose does occur? Guedes’ lab is also pioneering a device to restore breathing in overdose patients—a neck patch that delivers electrical stimulation to the nerves responsible for respiration.
“It’s a drug-agnostic solution,” says Guedes. “It doesn’t matter what the person overdosed on—this device can still help.”
Initial studies in pigs are complete, and design refinement is underway, with potential for real-world deployment in emergency settings and harm-reduction centers.
Innovation Born from Interdisciplinary Collaboration
The research exemplifies how veterinary and human medicine can collaborate across disciplines to address shared health challenges. Whether developing vaccines or life-saving devices, Guedes’ team is showing that veterinary medicine has a vital role to play in solving public health crises.
“By the time we begin human testing, we’ve learned everything we can,” says Guedes. “Veterinary research is a foundational part of that process.”
FAQs: Veterinary Medicine and Opioid Overdose Research
Q: Why are pigs used in opioid overdose research?
A: Pigs have physiological and immunological similarities to humans, making them ideal models for studying disease, drug response, and treatment outcomes. Guedes' team modified pig responses to better reflect human reactions to opioids like fentanyl.
Q: What is the goal of the opioid vaccine?
A: The vaccine aims to prevent fentanyl or other opioids from entering the brain, blocking their effects. It’s designed for people in recovery from opioid use disorder, especially those vulnerable to relapse.
Q: Will the vaccine affect pain medications?
A: No. The vaccines are drug-specific and would not interfere with other forms of pain management unless those drugs share the same compound.
Q: What does the neck patch do?
A: It delivers mild electrical stimulation to respiratory nerves, helping to restore breathing after an overdose, regardless of the specific substance used.
Q: When will these tools be available?
A: Vaccine toxicology studies are currently underway, with human clinical trials anticipated next. The breathing patch is in the refinement phase and may soon be tested in human environments.
This story is adapted from the College of Veterinary Medicine.
