Funded Projects
Explore our currently funded projects. You may search with all three fields, then focus your results by applying any of the dropdown filters. After customizing your search, you may download results and even save your specific search for later.
Project # | Project Title | Research Focus Area | Research Program | Administering IC Sort descending | Institution(s) | Investigator(s) | Location(s) | Year Awarded |
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1R34NS126032-01
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Stem cell-loaded microgels to treat discogenic low back pain | Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management | Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain | NINDS | CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER | SHEYN, DMITRIY | Los Angeles, CA | 2021 |
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Planning Studies for Initial Analgesic Development Initial Translational Efforts [Small Molecules and Biologics] (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-21-016 Summary: Pain caused by the degeneration of discs between vertebrae in the spine makes up a significant proportion of all chronic low back pain conditions. Although opioids are prescribed as treatments for this chronic condition, they often do not provide effective pain management, and currently there are no treatments that target the underlying disc disease. Notochordal cells mature into the cells that make up discs between vertebrae. Preliminary studies have shown that notochordal cells can be made from induced pluripotent stem cells, offering a potential replacement for diseased cells between discs. This study aims to develop a novel treatment for painful disc degeneration using a microgel/microtissue embedded with human notochordal cells made in the lab from induced pluripotent stem cells. |
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1R61NS131188-01
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Development of LPA5 Antagonists as Analgesics | Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management | Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain | NINDS | RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE | ZHANG, YANAN (contact); LI, JUN-XU; TAO, YUAN-XIANG | Research Triangle Park, NC | 2023 |
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: Neuropathic pain is a debilitating and complex medical condition for which safe and non-addictive treatment options are urgently needed. Preliminary studies have found that lysophosphatidic acid receptor 5 (LPA5) is present in areas of the body that signal pain, including at high levels in rodent models of neuropathic pain. This project will use genetic and pharmacological approaches to determine whether blocking LPA5 signaling reduces neuropathic pain toward future testing in humans. |
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1R34NS126036-01
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Synthesis of peripherally active CB1 agonists as analgesics | Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management | Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain | NINDS | ST. LOUIS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY | MAJUMDAR, SUSRUTA (contact); DROR, RON ; GEREAU, ROBERT W | St. Louis, MO | 2021 |
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Planning Studies for Initial Analgesic Development Initial Translational Efforts [Small Molecules and Biologics] (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-21-016 Summary: Current medications for chronic pain are largely ineffective and rely heavily on opioids, one contributor to the nation’s opioid crisis. The endocannabinoid system that consists of cannabinoid receptors (CB1R and CB2R) and their endogenous ligands is a natural pathway in the human body and has emerged as an alternative target for developing new pain medications with few side effects. Current molecules that bind to CB1R in the brain and spinal cord have psychoactive side effects, limiting their therapeutic use for treating chronic pain. This study aims to develop new molecules to bind to CB1R tightly and selectively, are metabolically stable, and are also unable to enter the brain. |
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1UG3NS131304-01
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Development of Positive TMEM97 Modulators for Treating Neuropathic Pain | Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management | Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain | NINDS | NUVONURO, INC. | MARTIN, STEPHAN | Austin, TX | 2023 |
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: Neuropathic pain is a debilitating and complex medical condition for which safe and non-addictive treatment options are urgently needed. This project aims to develop new strategies for treating neuropathic pain by controlling the activity of transmembrane protein 97 (TMEM97), also known as the sigma 2 receptor, which has been shown to relieve pain in an animal model of neuropathic pain. The research aims to develop a new molecule that increases TMEM97 activity and is safe for human use, toward obtaining approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Phase I clinical testing. |
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1UG3NS123965-01
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Novel, non-opioid, non-addictive intrathecal therapy for the treatment of chronic pain | Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management | Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain | NINDS | CENTREXION THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION | CAMPBELL, JAMES N | Boston, MA | 2021 |
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: Patients with severe, intractable chronic pain primarily receive treatment with opioids, and non-opioid treatment options are urgently needed. These patients may be candidates for treatment using other types of pain medications administered via intrathecal injection—that is, injection directly into the fluid-filled space between the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Intrathecal injection requires much lower medication doses than systemic administration. Centrexion Therapeutics Corporation seeks to develop CNTX-3100, a highly selective and highly potent novel small molecule that activates the nociception receptor (NOPr), for intrathecal administration using a pump approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In animal studies, such NOPr agonists had powerful analgesic effects when delivered directly to the spinal cord by intrathecal administration. CNTX-3100 has ideal properties for intrathecal delivery and in animal studies provided pain relief and a safety profile that was superior to intrathecally administered morphine. This project will scale up the drug, develop a formulation that ensures a stable product for intrathecal delivery, and conduct preclinical toxicity studies to prepare for a Phase 1 clinical trial. |
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1UG3NS131518-01
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Anesthetic-Eluting Contact Lens for Corneal Pain | Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management | Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain | NINDS | SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE | CIOLINO, JOSEPH | Boston, MA | 2023 |
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: Acute corneal pain from eye injury or surgery can be severe and debilitating, and oral opioids can be addictive. Anesthetic eye drops, such as tetracaine, can relieve corneal pain, but are only available by prescription due to potential overuse of the drops that may affect wound healing. To date, no ocular anesthetics are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use at home. This project aims to develop a bandage that delivers anesthetic to the eye through a specially designed contact lens filled with medication. A prototype version of the bandage lens in an animal model delivered up to 30 hours of eye pain relief without wound damage. This research will optimize the prototype version and evaluate safety and compatibility with the human body, toward future clinical testing in humans. |
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1UG3NS123964-01
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Disease Modifying Analgesia with CA8 Gene Therapy | Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management | Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain | NINDS | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | LEVITT, ROY C | Coral Gables, FL | 2021 |
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: Efforts to identify non-opioid analgesics for treatment of chronic pain have identified a protein, carbonic anhydrase-8 (CA8), in pain-sensing nerve cells in the spinal cord (dorsal root ganglion cells) whose expression regulates analgesic responses. Gene therapy delivering CA8 to dorsal root ganglion cells through clinically relevant routes of administration functions as a “local anesthetic” that induces long-lasting pain relief in animal models of chronic pain. This project will further develop CA8 gene therapy with the goal of treating chronic knee osteoarthritis pain. It will assess several gene therapy constructs to determine the doses needed, safety, efficacy, and specificity to nerve cells for each construct. It will then select the safest and most effective construct that can be administered via the least invasive route for further development. The project will include all steps necessary to identify one candidate gene therapy construct that will be suitable to begin clinical trials in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis pain. |
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1R61NS133217-01
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A Novel Assay to Improve Translation in Analgesic Drug Development | Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management | Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain | NINDS | VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY | NEGUS, SIDNEY S | Richmond, VA | 2023 |
NOFO Title: Development and Validation of Pain-Related Models and Endpoints to Facilitate Non-Addictive Analgesic Discovery
NOFO Number: NOT-NS-22-095 Summary: Effective development of non-addictive therapies for pain requires animal models that reflect the human condition. Unfortunately, currently used models have limitations and have not always done a good job of predicting what will work in human patients. This project will refine a new way of measuring pain-related behaviors in mice that takes advantage of more natural mouse behavior and is less influenced by experimenter biases and artifacts. The research will verify that the promising results hold up in several different types of pain and that different classes of clinically used pain medications are effective. They will also make sure the data can be reproduced by an outside laboratory. If successful, this will support the use of this new read-out for future pain therapy development. |
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1UG3NS123958-01
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Development of a CCKBR-targeting scFv as Therapy for Chronic Pain Patients | Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management | Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain | NINDS | UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR | WESTLUND-HIGH, KARIN N (contact); ALLES, SASCHA R | Albuquerque, NM | 2021 |
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: Cholecystokinin B receptor (CCKBR) is a molecule found in the brain that helps regulate anxiety and depression but also influences the development of tolerance to opioids. CCKBR levels are also increased in models of nerve injury-induced (neuropathic) pain. Therefore, targeting CCKBR may offer a new approach to treating neuropathic pain and the associated anxiety and depression. Researchers have developed mouse antibodies that can inactivate CCKBR. However, to be usable in humans without causing an immune response, these antibodies need to be modified to include more human sequences. This project will use a fragment of the CCKBR antibody, modify it with the addition of human antibody sequences, and then select the clones that bind most strongly and specifically to human CCKBR. These will then be tested in cell and animal models of neuropathic pain to identify the most promising candidates for further evaluation in humans. |
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1R61NS133704-01
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Development of Adrb3 Antagonists for the Treatment of Pain | Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management | Development and Optimization of Non-Addictive Therapies to Treat Pain | NINDS | DUKE UNIVERSITY | NACKLEY, ANDREA G (contact); JIN, CHUNYANG | Durham, NC | 2023 |
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Planning Studies for Initial Analgesic Development [Small Molecules and Biologics] (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-21-029 Summary: Common chronic pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia, temporomandibular disorder, and low back pain, are significant health conditions for which safe and effective treatments are needed. Previous studies have identified the adrenergic receptor beta-3 (Adrb3) as a novel target for chronic pain, but past attempts to block this receptor have not worked. This project aims to identify and develop new molecules to attach selectively and block Adrb3 without entering the brain and spinal cord. The research will test these molecules in rodent animal models to determine their ability to block pain without significant side effects. |