U. gets $10 million to study mollusk venom as opioid alternative

SALT LAKE CITY — The Department of Defense has committed approximately $10 million toward research by University of Utah Health into whether the numbing venom of some ocean species could be used as an alternative to opioids in treating pain.
The grant, announced by the university last week, is expected to be distributed over four years to help researchers find out whether substances in the venom of any of hundreds of different marine mollusks, such as snails and slugs, have potential as an