Reading University has received thousands of pounds in funding for pain relief research using an illegal Class A drug.

Dr Maria Maiarù, University of Reading, has secured nearly £100K to fund her chronic pain research over two years.

She hopes to discover if magic mushrooms, an illegal Class A psychedelic drug, may help relieve or treat pain.

Psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, has been shown to “rapidly reduce” symptoms of depression in patients resistant to antidepressant drugs.

Dr Maiarù said: “Chronic pain is very common, with perhaps 20% of people experiencing it to some degree. Unfortunately, most patients do not receive adequate pain relief. And even when pain relief is available, the drugs are often not ideal for long-term pain management. Opiates, for example, work well for pain but carry enormous risk of addiction and overdose if taken for more than a few days.”

Dr Maiarù will measure brain activity to see if psilocybin is affecting the areas known to be changed by chronic pain.

Initially, the research will focus on animal models of chronic pain. This involves monitoring the behavioural and biological changes in mice, following treatment with the magic mushrooms.

The plan is to compare these results with the animal’s response to antidepressant drugs.

Director of biomedical grants & policy at the Academy of Medical Sciences, Dr Suzanne Candy, said: “Together with our partners, we are fortunate to be able to support this talented group of researchers doing excellent science. Our strategic ambition is to help create an open and progressive research sector. By investing in these individuals and teams, we are broadening the range of people and disciplines engaged in biomedical and health research, across all regions of the UK, and globally.

“We look forward to supporting our award recipients and seeing how their research has a positive impact on the health of people everywhere.”

The Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard Award is awarded to health researchers and Dr Maiarù will use this to cover research expenses and to employ a research assistant.

Magic mushrooms have already been proven to reduce phantom limb pain and migraine.