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From left to right, members of the collaborative research team: Ivana Pilchova, Reinhold Penner, David Horgen, Andrea Fleig, and Sayuri Suzuki.
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On the monitor is a cell under a microscope that is being penetrated with a tiny probe to measure the flow of ion-like calcium and sodium across the membrane of the cell.
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Reinhold Penner, Andrea Fleig, and Sayuri Suzuki discussing electrophysiology data.
HPU is entering a new chapter in its research development with its participation in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01-funded project—an important and highly competitive grant mechanism that supports impactful biomedical research. While the primary award was issued to The Queen’s Medical Center, HPU is a key partner on the project, serving as the lead site for implementation with NIH approval. This collaboration marks a major step forward in HPU’s growing engagement with federally supported scientific research and reflects the University’s increasing capacity to contribute to complex, interdisciplinary initiatives.
From left to right, in the HPU Science Labs: HPU alumni and research technicians Jessie Nguyen and Emily Nguyen with researcher Sayuri Suzuki.
“This milestone not only elevates our faculty and academic profile nationally, but it also reinforces our commitment to providing students with hands-on, research-intensive learning experiences that have real-world impact,” said HPU Acting Senior Vice President and Provost Brenda Jensen, Ph.D.
Spearheaded by HPU Professor of Chemistry David Horgen, Ph.D., and Reinhold Penner, M.D., Ph.D., formerly of Queen’s, the $378,000 grant moving to HPU is funding an interdisciplinary study into the pain-relieving properties of cannabis-derived phytochemicals. The grant is administered through the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a division of the NIH focused on natural products and their biomedical potential.
The collaborative project builds on a nearly 20-year partnership between Horgen and Penner.
“We’ve published close to 20 papers together over the years, and this grant continues that strong collaboration,” Horgen said.
A New Frontier in Chronic Pain Treatment
The study, initiated by Penner, aims to identify and characterize lesser-known, naturally occurring cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa—particularly the so-called “minor cannabinoids”—that may hold potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties without the psychoactive effects commonly associated with THC.
“The overarching goal,” Horgen explained, “is to find alternative pain management strategies that avoid the negative consequences of opioids. Some of these minor cannabinoids could have real potential as safer alternatives for chronic pain treatment.”
Preliminary data already show promise. The project has identified that compounds like cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) inhibit calcium signaling in immune cells, suppressing inflammation and reducing pain.
One recent publication in Function, by Penner’s research group, demonstrated how CBGA blocks calcium entry in human T cells, thereby reducing the production of key inflammatory cytokines such as IL-2. Another study published in Scientific Reports showed CBGA’s effectiveness in protecting kidneys from fibrosis and chemotherapy-related damage.
These early findings underpin the broader scope of the R01-funded project. Over the next six to 18 months, the team will pharmacologically profile individual and combined cannabis compounds, investigate their cellular signaling pathways, and evaluate their pain-reducing effects using in vivo models.
“We’re studying how these compounds might suppress calcium signaling and inflammatory responses at the cellular level and testing their efficacy in animal models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain,” Penner detailed.
Transforming HPU’s Research Ecosystem
The R01 award signifies more than just a scientific win—it marks a leap forward for HPU’s institutional research capacity.
“When I arrived at HPU, there was no research funding, no research labs. This is my 25th year here, and it’s been incredibly satisfying to help build our research environment from the ground up,” Horgen reflected.
The grant also strengthens HPU’s research partnerships and reflects the University’s growing role in collaborative biomedical innovation.
One of the most immediate impacts of the grant is the expanded opportunity it creates for student researchers. “Engaging undergraduate and graduate students in meaningful research is our highest priority in the sciences at HPU,” Horgen said. “This kind of project gives students hands-on experience with high-level techniques in molecular biology, pharmacology, and bioinformatics. It opens the doors for their future careers and graduate education.”
The presence of federally funded research on campus also enhances HPU’s profile when applying for future grants. “When reviewers evaluate grant proposals, they consider the research environment,” Horgen explained. “So, a vibrant, productive research program like this one and several other NIH-funded projects in the University help attract more funding. It creates a positive feedback loop that benefits the entire University.”
Looking Ahead
As HPU continues to grow its research portfolio, the R01 grant sets a precedent for what’s possible. The University’s first step into this tier of federal funding signals a readiness to contribute to global conversations in public health, pharmaceutical development, and biomedical innovation.
“I think this is just a continuation of a trajectory we started 20 years ago,” Horgen said. “It’s proof that with the right people and partnerships, a smaller university like HPU can achieve truly meaningful things in science.”
With new momentum, expanding partnerships, and engaged student researchers, HPU is poised to build on this success—advancing science that could offer relief to millions suffering from chronic pain, while helping reshape the future of health research in Hawaiʻi and beyond.
