Funded Projects

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Project # Project Title Research Focus Area Research Program Administering IC Institution(s) Investigator(s) Location(s) Year Awarded
1UC2AR082196-01
Innervation of the Knee and TMJ  Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain (RE-JOIN) NIAMS UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ALLEN, KYLE D (contact); ALMARZA, ALEJANDRO JOSE; CAUDLE, ROBERT M Gainesville, FL 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain Consortium (RE-JOIN) (UC2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-AR-22-009
Summary:

A complex network of different nerve cell subtypes connects to joints in different ways throughout body regions, such as the knee and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that connects the lower jaw and skull. This project aims to identify disease-specific pain symptoms using clinically relevant rat models of TMJ and knee osteoarthritis – and compare findings with disease-specific pain symptoms in human patients with the same conditions. This research may lead to a better understanding of how different nerve cell subtypes contribute to joint pain as well as how these nerve cell subtypes change with age and disease.
1R01DE032501-01
Targeting HB-EGF and Trigeminal EGFR for Oral Cancer Pain and Opioid Tolerance Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Treatment of Pain NIDCR NEW YORK UNIVERSITY YE, YI New York, NY 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Pain Treatment (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: NS22-034
Summary:

Oral cancers are painful and often require use of opioid medications to manage pain. However, the effectiveness of opioids often wanes quickly, and many patients require higher doses because they develop tolerance to these medications. This project will study the potential value of blocking epidermal growth-factor receptors interacting with peripheral nerves to treat oral cancer pain. The findings will advance understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying oral cancer pain and provide a rationale for repurposing epidermal growth-factor receptor blockers, which is already approved for head and neck cancer treatment for treating oral cancer and associated pain.
1UC2AR082186-01
Mapping the Joint-Nerve Interactome of the Knee Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain (RE-JOIN) NIAMS RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER MALFAIT, ANNE-MARIE; LOTZ, MARTIN K; MILLER, RICHARD J Chicago, IL 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain Consortium (RE-JOIN) (UC2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-AR-22-009
Summary:

This project will use a variety of technologies to create a comprehensive, 3D map of how sensory neurons activate knee joints in both mice and humans. The research will use imaging techniques and molecular approaches that measure gene expression. The findings will help create a comprehensive gene expression profile map of individual cells in the nerve fibers leading to the knee, as well as describe how nerve cells and joint cells interact at the most fundamental level. This research will generate a rich anatomical and molecular resource to understand the molecular basis of joint pain and guide the development of novel pain-relieving strategies.
1R01DK135076-01
PNPase Inhibition as an Effective Treatment for Chronic Bladder Pain Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Treatment of Pain NIDDK UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH BIRDER, LORI A (contact); JACKSON, EDWIN KERRY Pittsburgh, PA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Pain Treatment (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: NS22-034
Summary:

Chronic visceral pain disorders, such as interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, are among the most difficult types of pain to treat. This project will conduct a detailed analysis of an enzyme thought to be involved with the disorder (purine nucleoside phosphorylase, or PNPase) as a target for new nonopioid pain medications to treat interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. The research will lay the groundwork for developing targeted treatments for visceral pain disorders.
1UG3NS127258-01A1
A First-in-Class, Mechanism-Guided, Cell-Based Therapy for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain NINDS CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU CHENG, JIANGUO Cleveland, OH 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Non-addictive Analgesic Therapeutics Development [Small Molecules and Biologics] to Treat Pain (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-21-010
Summary:

Complex regional pain syndrome is one of the most disabling and difficult-to-treat chronic pain conditions. This project seeks to develop a novel, biological treatment for the condition using injected human bone marrow cells. that can form and repair skeletal tissues and control nervous and immune system activity. The research will determine the dose and source of clinical-grade bone marrow cells needed, toward the goal of submitting an Investigational New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that will enable further clinical study.
1U19NS130617-01
Harvard PRECISION Human Pain Center Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Treatment of Pain NINDS BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL RENTHAL, WILLIAM RUSSELL (contact); WOOLF, CLIFFORD J Boston, MA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Discovery and Functional Evaluation of Human Pain-associated Genes and Cells (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: NS22-018
Summary:

This project will use state-of-the-art technologies to analyze individual cells to characterize how human pain receptors communicate pain between the human dorsal root ganglia and the brain – including how the signals vary across diverse populations. This research will generate useful, high-quality human data about pain for further analysis and re-use by other scientific teams, toward identifying and prioritizing novel therapeutic targets for pain.
1UC2AR082197-01
Neural Architecture of the Murine and Human Temporomandibular Joint Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain (RE-JOIN) NIAMS DUKE UNIVERSITY DONNELLY, CHRISTOPHER RYAN; CAI, DAWEN; EMRICK, JOSHUA JAMES Durham, NC 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain Consortium (RE-JOIN) (UC2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-AR-22-009
Summary:

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are the most common form of chronic pain in the face and mouth area (orofacial pain), but relatively little is known about the biological causes of these conditions. This project will define the properties of sensory neurons that connect to tissues that make up the TMJ which connects the lower jaw and skull. This research aims to lay groundwork for development of new therapeutic approaches to treat these painful conditions.
1R01DK134989-01
Signal Integration by Specialized Mesenchyme in Urothelial Homeostasis and Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Treatment of Pain NIDDK STANFORD UNIVERSITY BEACHY, PHILIP A Redwood City, CA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Pain Treatment (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: NS22-034
Summary:

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome is a debilitating disease affecting many women. Opioid-based pain management is a common feature of current treatment approaches but is associated with the risk of addiction. The causes of this disorder remain unknown, and no effective treatments are available. This project will provide new insights using genetic, medication-based and other approaches in a mouse model, along with single-cell gene expression studies conducted with cells from mice and human patients who have this condition. The analyses will help provide targeted, safe, and effective treatment approaches for individuals with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.
1U19NS130607-01
INTERCEPT: Integrated Research Center for Human Pain Tissues Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Treatment of Pain NINDS WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY GEREAU, ROBERT W Saint Louis, MO 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Discovery and Functional Evaluation of Human Pain-associated Genes and Cells (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: NS22-018
Summary:

This project will use a variety of state-of-the-art technologies to generate a comprehensive  gene expression map of human peripheral nerves. The research will enhance understanding about genes involved in various painful conditions associated with nerve damage (neuropathies) resulting from injury or disease. This research will analyze DNA sequences of individual neuronal and non-neuronal cells in human nerve cells (from individuals with and without pain located outside the spinal cord that are involved in pain signal transmission. The findings, together with other imaging and computational approaches, will be used to generate a spatial atlas of the human dorsal root ganglia – a key hub for pain communication between the brain and spinal cord.
1UC2AR082195-01
Comprehensive Functional Phenotyping of Trigeminal Neurons Innervating Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Tissues in Male, Female and Aged Mice, Primates, and Humans With and Without TMJ Disorders (TMJD) Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain (RE-JOIN) NIAMS UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCIENCE CENTER AKOPIAN, ARMEN N; BOADA, MARIO DANILO; ERNBERG, MALIN; MACPHERSON, LINDSEY J San Antonio, TX 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain Consortium (RE-JOIN) (UC2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-AR-22-009
Summary:

Scientists do not know the details of how the nervous system interacts with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that connects the lower jaw with the skull. This project aims to comprehensively explain the functions, types, neuroanatomical distributions, and adaptability (plasticity) of specific nerve cells in the brain (trigeminal neurons) that connect with the TMJ. The research will analyze nerve-TMJ connections associated with chewing muscles and other structures that form the TMJ such as cartilage and ligaments. The project will analyze samples from both sexes of aged mice, primates, and humans with and without painful TMJ disorders. This research aims to uncover potential treatment and prevention targets for managing TMJ pain.
1RF1NS130481-01
Immune Modulating Therapies to Treat Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Treatment of Pain NINDS DREXEL UNIVERSITY AJIT, SEENA Philadelphia, PA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Pain Treatment (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: NS22-034
Summary:

Complex regional pain syndrome is a difficult-to-treat chronic condition that causes excess and prolonged pain and inflammation after injury to an arm or leg and includes damage to skin of affected limbs. Although it is known that aberrant immune system function plays a role in this condition, the details remain unclear about how this occurs – in particular, through the adaptive immune system that relies on specialized immune cells and antibodies to protect the body from harm.  This project will study the role of certain immune cells (T cells) that circulate throughout the body or reside in bone using both rat or human bone samples from patients with complex regional pain syndrome.
1R61AG081034-01
Addressing the Chronic Pain Epidemic among Older Adults in Underserved Community Center; The GetActive+ Study Clinical Research in Pain Management Advancing Health Equity in Pain Management NIA Massachusetts General Hospital VRANCEANU, ANA-MARIA (contact); RITCHIE, CHRISTINE S Boston, MA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Advancing Health Equity in Pain Management (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)
NOFO Number: NS22-002
Summary:

This research project will include focus group interviews with clinicians, patients, medical interpreters, and healthcare administrators to identify barriers and facilitators to administering the GetActive+ intervention in a group visit at a clinic for older adults with chronic pain, to inform development of a therapy manual. The project will then test the GetActive+ intervention for changes in physical function immediately post-intervention and after 6 months, as well as for changes in pain, sleep, depression, and anxiety at both time points. This research will also assess feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and adoption of the intervention with patients, providers, and healthcare staff. 
1UG3NS128439-01
Allosteric Targeting of Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor to Develop Non-Addictive Small Molecule Analgesics Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain NINDS Texas A&M Health Science Center LU, DAI (contact); SELLEY, DANA E; TAO, FENG College Station, TX 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Non-addictive Analgesic Therapeutics Development [Small Molecules and Biologics] to Treat Pain (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-21-010
Summary:

Overreliance on opioids to treat chronic pain has been a contributor to the increase in individuals experiencing opioid addiction. This project aims to develop an innovative treatment approach for chronic pain that targets the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) to block the sensation of pain. The approach seeks to identify molecules that interact with a different part of the CBR1 receptor than do endocannabinoids and the primary active component of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol. Molecules that bind to and activate CBR1 in this different way (at an “allosteric” site) may produce nerve signaling that might differ from the effects of cannabis and endocannabinoids. This redirection of signaling pathways could help eliminate the risk of adverse effects observed with natural cannabinoids and other CBR1-binding molecules. The goal of this project is to identify a CB1R allosteric molecule, conduct studies toward obtaining federal permission to develop it as a medication, and to test it in a Phase I clinical study.
1RM1NS128775-01
Defining Mechanisms of Pain Relief Associated with Dorsal Root Ganglion and Spinal Cord Stimulation Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Translating Discoveries into Effective Devices to Treat Pain NINDS University of Pittsburgh KOERBER, H RICHARD (contact); LEMPKA, SCOTT F; WEBER, DOUGLAS J Pittsburgh, PA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Interdisciplinary Teams to Elucidate the Mechanisms of Device-Based Pain Relief (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: NS22-016
Summary:

Chronic pain is a debilitating condition for which there is a pressing need for safe, effective treatments. Neurostimulation therapies that target nerve structures such as the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the spinal cord, have shown promising results for treating chronic pain, but researchers don’t know how they work. This project focuses on two prevailing models used to explain the therapeutic effects of neurostimulation: the gate-control model in which pain signals are blocked from reaching the brain and the T-junction filtering model in which pain signals are blocked from reaching the spinal cord. Strategies will include innovative behavioral, electrophysiological, imaging, and computational modeling techniques. The results of these studies will help explain why neurostimulation therapies work and potentially offer new treatment strategies for improved pain relief.
1R61MH132249-01
Latinx Children and Surgery Clinical Research in Pain Management Advancing Health Equity in Pain Management NIMH University of California, Irvine KAIN, ZEEV Irvine, CA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Advancing Health Equity in Pain Management (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)
NOFO Number: NS22-002
Summary:

Both pain experience and treatment response are determined by a variety of factors, including race and ethnicity. Inequities in access to healthcare and pain treatment affect patients from minority populations, such as Hispanic/Latino populations of all age groups. This study will develop and test an online intervention—Web-based Tailored Intervention for Preparation of Parents and Children for Outpatient Surgery (L-WebTIPS)—tailored for Latino families of children having outpatient surgeries. The intervention aims to lower child and family anxiety before surgery as well as to reduce post-surgical pain by enhancing parent self-efficacy and behavioral pain coping strategies. After an exploratory phase to assess usability and acceptability of the intervention, the study will evaluate the impact of L-WebTIPS on child pre-surgery anxiety and post-surgery pain as well assess other child and parent outcomes.
3U24NS114416-01S2
Pre-Trial Implementation Study for Ketamine in Sickle Cell Disease Cross-Cutting Research Training the Next Generation of Researchers in HEAL NINDS Duke University LIMKAKENG, ALEXANDER TAN Durham, NC 2022
NOFO Title: Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: PA21-071
Summary:

There are significant and persistent gaps in knowledge about effective pain management for acute and chronic sickle cell pain. This is an area of relevant interest for the NIH HEAL Initiative's Early Phase Pain Investigation Clinical Network (EPPIC-Net). In order to provide guidance for hospital-based administration of the medication ketamine, this project will conduct a cross-sectional survey study of healthcare professionals within EPPIC-Net who provide care for people with sickle cell disease. This information can be used to design a clinical protocol for a multisite, randomized clinical trial of sub-anesthetic (low) doses of ketamine for challenging vaso-occlusive episodes (“pain crises”) in people with sickle cell disease.
1R43HD107727-01A1
Novel Approach to Personalize and Monitor Therapeutic Training At Home in Chronic Pelvic Pain Management Cross-Cutting Research Small Business Programs NICHD Hillmed, Inc. DIAS, NICHOLAS Katy, TX 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management (R43/R44 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-20-011
Summary:

Chronic pelvic pain is a debilitating condition that negatively affects the social and sexual quality of life for up to 20% of American women. Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) pain is caused by many factors, as well as by incorrect posture and excessive sensitization of the peripheral nervous system. This project will introduce a prototype of the Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) HomeTrainer that monitors, quantitatively and in real time, both PFM activation capacity and muscle interactions between the PFM and hip/trunk muscles and adapts the PFM training to the user’s needs in their own home. The proposed CPP HomeTrainer offers biofeedback to aid myofascial physical therapy and movement pattern training by tailoring the protocol to specifically correct interactions between the PFM and problematic hip/trunk muscles.
1R61NS126029-01A1
Inhibiting RIPK1 with Necrostatin-1 for Safe and Effective Pain Treatment Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain NINDS Massachusetts General Hospital SHEN, SHIQIAN (contact); HOULE, TIMOTHY T; WANG, CHANGNING ; ZHANG, CAN MARTIN Boston, MA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Planning Studies for Initial Analgesic Development [Small Molecules and Biologics] (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: NS21-029
Summary:

Recent studies have reported that neuropathic pain involves changes in the central nervous system that are linked to necroptosis (programmed necrotic cell death) and release of cellular components that create neuroinflammation. Necroptosis is a type of necrotic cell death affected by the protein receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1 or RIP1). Preliminary studies also indicate that pain increases levels of RIPK1 in key brain regions implicated in pain processing. This project aims to further validate RIPK1 as a target for neuropathic pain using a newly developed positron emission tomography imaging approach. The work will pave the way for new brain-penetrant RIPK1 inhibitors as a safe, effective, and nonaddictive treatment approach for neuropathic pain.
1R61CA278594-01
Achieving Equity through SocioCulturally-Informed, Digitally-Enabled Cancer Pain managemeNT" (ASCENT) Clinical Trial Clinical Research in Pain Management Advancing Health Equity in Pain Management NCI Mayo Clinic CHEVILLE, ANDREA LYNNE (contact); DOUBENI, CHYKE ABADAMA Rochester, MN 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Advancing Health Equity in Pain Management (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)
NOFO Number: NS22-002
Summary:

Cancer pain treatment disparities are associated with a decreased ability to tolerate treatment, as well as increased rates of disability, unemployment, institutionalization, and early death. The Achieving Equity through SocioCulturally-informed, Digitally-Enabled Cancer Pain managemeNT (ASCENT) clinical trial will test whether a novel digitally enabled, collaborative approach to team-based pain management can improve clinical outcomes and reduce long-standing and devastating disparities among rural dwelling and Hispanic/Latinx cancer survivors. A major focus of the randomized, effectiveness clinical trial is to test the hypothesis that the ASCENT intervention will reduce pain and unplanned healthcare use, while improving function, mood, sleep, and quality of life.
1UG3NS127943-01
Oral N2O Therapy in Treating Acute Vaso-Occlusive Pain in Sickle Cell Disease Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain NINDS Hillhurst Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. GOMPERTS, EDWARD (contact); BELCHER, JOHN D; SIMONE, DONALD Montrose, CA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Non-addictive Analgesic Therapeutics Development [Small Molecules and Biologics] to Treat Pain (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-21-010
Summary:

Inhaled nitrous oxide, N2O, is used in emergency departments in Europe to treat pain associated with sickle cell disease as well as for labor, painful fractures, and to manage serious gynecological pain. It is not a viable therapeutic option for home use for reasons such as poor dosing control, potential inhalation equipment issues, and variability in patient ventilation and lung absorption. This project seeks to optimize, characterize, and develop an oral formulation of N2O that could be used by patients at home for unpredictable and severe episodes of pain associated sickle cell disease. Once developed, the new oral formulation of N2O will be evaluated to determine whether it or an optimized version is ready for more clinical testing.
1RM1NS128741-01
From Nerve to Brain: Toward a Mechanistic Understanding of Spinal Cord Stimulation in Human Subjects Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Translating Discoveries into Effective Devices to Treat Pain NINDS Massachusetts General Hospital WAINGER, BRIAN JASON (contact); FREEMAN, ROY ; LOGGIA, MARCO LUCIANO Boston, MA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Interdisciplinary Teams to Elucidate the Mechanisms of Device-Based Pain Relief (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: NS22-016
Summary:

Spinal cord stimulators (SCS) and related devices are commonly used for hard-to-treat pain conditions, but how they work remains unclear. This knowledge is important for improving device design and stimulation patterns, as well as for determining which patients will benefit. Through a series of clinical studies in patients with SCS devices, this project will explore the hypothesis that SCS devices reduce pain by changing the excitability of peripheral sensory nerve fibers in the spinal cord. The results should guide development of biomarkers to advance research further.
1R61NS129050-01
Integrating Nonpharmacologic Strategies for Pain with Inclusion, Respect, and Equity (INSPIRE): Tailored Digital Tools, Telehealth Coaching, and Primary Care Coordination Clinical Research in Pain Management Advancing Health Equity in Pain Management NINDS University of California, San Francisco SATTERFIELD, JASON M San Francisco, CA 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Advancing Health Equity in Pain Management (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)
NOFO Number: NS22-002
Summary:

There is a need to improve access to treatments and address the stigma, bias, and mistrust that harm and isolate people with chronic pain, especially those from ethnic and racial minority populations. The Integrating Nonpharmacologic Strategies for Pain with Inclusion, Respect, and Equity (INSPIRE) Chronic Pain (CP) intervention blends cognitive-behavioral therapy, physical therapy, mindfulness, and pain education, and is delivered by a trilingual mobile app and supported by a telehealth pain coach who coordinates with doctors. The coach will collect and summarize patient reports on pain, depression, anxiety, substance use, and social factors, and share them with healthcare providers. In this project, researchers will create the digital tool and coaching protocol, develop educational and implementation strategies for healthcare providers, and conduct a pilot test. They will then perform a randomized clinical trial to compare INSPIRE to current treatment, analyze its effects, and evaluate outcomes.
3UG3NS123958-01S1
Neuroimmune Mechanisms of a Humanized CCK-B Receptor scFv as Therapy for Chronic Pain Patients Cross-Cutting Research Training the Next Generation of Researchers in HEAL NINDS University of New Mexico WESTLUND-HIGH, KARIN N Albuquerque, NM 2022
NOFO Title: Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: PA21-071
Summary:

There are currently few effective therapies available for chronic nerve injury-induced pain, associated anxiety, and depression. This project aims to extend previous research aiming to uncover the mechanism of action of artificially modified immune molecules (humanized cholecystokinin-2 receptor [CCKBR] single-chain variable fragments [scFv]) on human neurons and how it reverses chronic pain and anxiety-like behaviors in mouse models. This potential treatment approach offers important advantages over existing therapies, including extreme specificity, higher affinity, brain/nerve penetrance, safety, and reduced self-immunogenicity.
1R43NS125643-01
Development of an intranasal, direct to nerve treatment for headache disorders Cross-Cutting Research Small Business Programs NINDS Olfax, LLC BECKWITH, JONATHAN G (contact); COOK, JASON T Asheville, NC 2022
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management (R43/R44 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-20-011
Summary:

About 14% of U.S. adults report experiencing migraine symptoms within any given 3-month period, making it the second most disabling illness in the world. Nonspecific pain medications used in migraine (e.g., acetaminophen, nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs, opioids) are often not effective for severe migraine symptoms or cause significant adverse effects. A research team of migraine care specialists, device and drug developers, and clinical research specialists has created a technology for accurately delivering self-administered migraine medication to the upper nasal cavity. The technology enables development of a self-administered therapy to provide rapid pain relief without harsh and addictive side effects of existing migraine medications. This project will establish efficacy and evaluate commercial design feasibility for this treatment.
1DP2TR004354-01
Scale Up Single-Cell Technologies to Map Pain-Associated Genes and Cells Across the Lifespan Cross-Cutting Research Training the Next Generation of Researchers in HEAL NCATS Massachusetts General Hospital SHU, JIAN Boston, MA 2022
NOFO Title: Emergency Awards: HEAL Initiative- New Innovator Award (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-tr-22-013
Summary:

Current treatments for chronic pain, including opioids, are not effective for many individuals. Much remains unknown about genes, circuits, and cells that contribute to chronic pain, including how chronic pain changes across the lifespan in certain populations, including infants, children, older people, and pregnant women. This project will develop technology to map the genes, circuits, and cells associated with pain across ages, sexes, and during pregnancy. The technologies will guide the search for new biomarkers for chronic pain diagnosis and treatments.