Funded Projects

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Project # Project Title Research Focus Area Research Program Administering IC Institution(s) Investigator(s) Location(s) Year Awarded
1R61DA059169-01
Leveraging Data to Action: Accelerating Emergency Department OUD Care by Improving Data Access and Infrastructure Cross-Cutting Research Translating Data 2 Action to Prevent Overdose NIDA YALE UNIVERSITY VENKATESH, ARJUN KRISHNA (contact); HAWK, KATHRYN; TAYLOR, RICHARD ANDREW New Haven, CO 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: HEAL Data2Action – Innovation and Acceleration Projects, Phased Awards (R61/R33, Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-057
Summary:

Emergency departments (EDs) are key settings for identifying and treating opioid use disorder (OUD), but EDs are underused for this purpose. This project aims to develop a data system that automates and integrates electronic health record and administrative data from EDs into the Clinical Emergency Department Registry, partnering with the American College of Emergency Physicians. The research will assess the digital readiness of ED systems before developing and deploying the enhanced ED OUD data infrastructure. This research aims to guide near-real time hospital quality improvement initiatives, toward development of a web-based, near-real time dashboard that can be used in EDs across the country.
1R43HD112219-01A1
Targeted Temperature Modulation with Smart Radiometric Monitoring for Effective and Long-Lasting Opioid-Free Pelvic Pain Relief: A Novel Low-Cost, Portable, Tampon-Sized Thermal Transfer Device Cross-Cutting Research Small Business Programs NICHD H3PELVIC THERAPY SYSTEMS, INC. LYON, ZACHARY W Lewisville, NC 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL INITIATIVE: Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-23-006
Summary:

Pelvic pain (PP) includes more than 20 different painful and debilitating conditions, such as urinary tract infections, menstrual cramps, endometriosis, overactive bladder, and interstitial cystitis, and affects millions of people. Globally, pelvic pain affects 1 in 5 women and 1 in 12 men. This project will develop an instrument to monitor and treat pain-associated temperature changes in the pelvic region to reduce chronic pelvic pain. This novel system is intended to be used at home with personalized settings.
1RM1DA059377-01
Person-Centered Quality Measurement and Management in a System for Addictions Treatment in New York State Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Optimizing the Quality, Reach, and Impact of Addiction Services NIDA NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE NEIGHBORS, CHARLES J (contact); BURKE, CONSTANCE; LINCOURT, PATRICIA New York, NY 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Research to Foster an Opioid Use Disorder Treatment System Patients Can Count On (RM1 - Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-046
Summary:

The number of drug overdoses in New York continues to rise. In response, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) is promoting approaches that embrace person-centered care, evidence-based practices, equitable treatment, and harm-reduction principles. In this project, researchers will partner with OASAS to build a quality measurement and management research center that provides performance feedback to support and encourage leadership and staff of treatment clinics to improve practice. The center will also publicize quality measures to ensure public accountability.
1R01DA059423-01
Automated Assessment of Maternal Sensitivity to Infant Distress: Leveraging Wearable Sensors for Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Research Enhanced Outcomes for Infants and Children Exposed to Opioids Virtual Assessments to Understand Developmental Trajectories of Substance Use Exposure NIDA UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN DE BARBARO, KAYA Austin, TX 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Development and validation of virtual assessments to study children and caregivers in their natural environment (R01- Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-050
Summary:

High-quality parent-infant interactions set the stage for secure parent-child attachment, self-reliance, and children’s ability to flexibly solve problems and “bounce back” from difficulties. This constellation of behaviors reduces the risk of developing substance use disorders later in life. This project will develop algorithms that use data from wearable sensors, trained separately for English- and Spanish-speaking families, to assess the quality of early mother-infant interactions objectively, automatically, and remotely in natural home environments, with the goal of developing tools to facilitate identification and prevention of early risks for substance use disorders.
1K99NS134965-01
Lymphocyte Antigen 6 (Ly6) Proteins: New Players in Chronic Pain Cross-Cutting Research Training the Next Generation of Researchers in HEAL NINDS NEW YORK UNIVERSITY GOMEZ, KIMBERLY New York, NY 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral-to-Independent Career Transition Award in PAIN and SUD Research to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-22-025
Summary:

Neuropathic pain—a debilitating form of chronic pain affecting millions of people—responds poorly to current analgesic treatment approaches. By better understanding the cellular mechanisms and compounds involved in neuropathic pain, researchers will be able to develop more targeted therapeutic approaches. This project will investigate the role that two proteins—Ly6e and Lynx1—play in various processes involved in the development of neuropathic pain, such as the activity of pain-triggering sensory neurons, interactions between neurons and immune cells, and the activity of an ion channel that has been implicated in the generation of pain signals.
2R44DE029369-02
A Novel Opioid-Free Targeted Pain Control Method for Acute Post-Operative Localized Pain Related to Oral Surgical Procedures Cross-Cutting Research Small Business Programs NINDS REVBIO, INC. JADIA, RAHUL (contact); KAY, GEORGE Lowell, MA 2023
NOFO Title: PHS 2022-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: PA-22-176
U01DA058548-01
Clinical Development of a Therapeutic Agent for Rapid Reversal of Methamphetamine Intoxication Novel Therapeutic Options for Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose Focusing Medication Development to Prevent and Treat Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose NIDA CLEAR SCIENTIFIC, LLC LI, XINHUA Cambridge, MA 2023
NOFO Title: Grand Opportunity in Medications Development for Substance-Use Disorders (U01 - Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: PAR-19-327
Summary:

Currently there are no safe, rapidly acting treatments for methamphetamine use disorder and overdose. This project will evaluate a potential treatment: the small molecule CS-1103, which selectively attaches to methamphetamine in the blood. This molecule quickly removes methamphetamine blood and into urine for elimination from the body. The research will evaluate the safety and compatibility of CS-1103 with the human body, toward future clinical testing in humans. 
1R44DA058474-01
Development of the OpiAID Strength Band Platform Cross-Cutting Research Small Business Programs NIDA OPIAID, INC. REESER, DAVID (contact); MACQUEEN, DAVID ALDERSON; WASHINGTON, WENDY DONLIN Wilmington, NC 2023
NOFO Title: Developing Regulated Therapeutic and Diagnostic Solutions for Patients Affected by Opioid and/or Stimulants use Disorders (OUD/StUD) (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-021
Summary:

Although medications for opioid use disorder are effective and available, providers currently lack methods to monitor patients and thus inform improved dosing. This project will develop Strength Band Platform, an innovative artificial intelligence-based digital platform. The wearable device will collect patient physiological characteristics to detect relapse and withdrawal during treatment with medications for opioid use disorder in real-world settings. 
3UH3DA050174-02S3
Supplement to HOME Trial: Role of Justice Involvement in Implementation and Effectiveness of Housing First for Youth Experiencing Homelessness New Strategies to Prevent and Treat Opioid Addiction Preventing Opioid Use Disorder NIDA OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY NATASHA SLESNICK; KELLY J KELLEHER Columbus, OH 2023
NOFO Title: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): HEAL Initiative: Regarding the Availability of Administrative Supplements to Support the Addition of Justice Measures
NOFO Number: NOT-DA-23-011
Summary:

Providing housing and prevention services (often referred to as “housing first”) has great potential to prevent opioid use disorder, continued homelessness, and other problem behaviors among youth experiencing homelessness. However, implementation of these services is challenging because criminal justice system involvement (which is common in this population) often prevents or delays access to housing. This project will explore interactions between criminal justice system involvement and the housing first intervention, toward reducing risks for opioid use and death among justice-involved youth experiencing homelessness
3U01DA055354-03S1
HBCD Study Biospecimens Administrative Supplement: Resource Generation for Delivery Specimens Enhanced Outcomes for Infants and Children Exposed to Opioids HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study (HBCD) NIDA UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE POTTER, ALEXANDRA S (contact); GARAVAN, HUGH P Burlington, VT 2023
NOFO Title: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): HEAL Initiative: Biospecimen Collection in Pregnancy
NOFO Number: NOT-DA-23-005
Summary:

Opioid use during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes for pregnant individuals and offspring. The mechanisms through which these outcomes arise and the consequences of prenatal opioid exposure on child health and development remain largely unexplored. The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study is a nationwide longitudinal prospective study of early child development that will assess a broad spectrum of biological, behavioral, social, and health factors among 7,500 pregnant women and their children from pregnancy to mid-childhood. This supplement will expand the biospecimen collection of the HBCD protocol at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to include delivery specimens (placenta, cord tissue, and cord blood). This will provide an unprecedented resource-generating opportunity for the larger scientific community to comprehensively evaluate mechanisms that mediate the connection between substance use during pregnancy and adverse neonatal, infant, and/or maternal health outcomes and inform innovative preventive strategies. 
1R61DA059163-01
Supporting Data-Driven Decision-Making to Support Substance Use Service Expansion Policies and to Prevent Overdoses Cross-Cutting Research Translating Data 2 Action to Prevent Overdose NIDA CHESTNUT HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. CRUDEN, GRACELYN Bloomington, IL 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: HEAL Data2Action – Innovation and Acceleration Projects, Phased Awards (R61/R33, Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-057
Summary:

Oregon ranks last in the United States for access to substance use services, having passed a novel ballot measure bringing unprecedented funding levels to expand services and decriminalize possession of personal amounts of substances. This project will develop and evaluate a strategy to inform development of the policy. Cross-sector participants (e.g., community service providers, law enforcement, advocates) will co-design protocols for linking and distributing substance use service data through reports, simulations, and dashboards. This research will test the usability of the developed products and their impact of DDS on service gaps, evidence-based decision-making, quality of evidence-based services, service recipient outcomes, and cross-sector collaboration. The research will also help state decision makers implement strategies for other substance use policies.
1R43TR004743-01
The Pain in a Dish Assay (PIDA): A High Throughput System Featuring Human Stem Cell-Derived Nociceptors and Dorsal Horn Neurons to Test Compounds for Analgesic Activity Cross-Cutting Research Small Business Programs NCATS VALA SCIENCES, INC. MCDONOUGH, PATRICK M San Diego, CA 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL INITIATIVE: Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-23-006
Summary:

This project will develop PIDA, which will allow researchers to measure the activity of pain-sensitive human neurons in response to pain stimuli and potential pain treatments. The tool will use automated digital microscopes in the absence or presence of a potential pain medication. Since this tool contains human neurons, it may be more effective at predicting the efficacy of potential pain drugs in human patients than the animal models that are currently used.
1RM1DA059395-01
HEALing Measurement Center: Enhancing Opioid Use Disorder Recovery Through Measurement Based Care Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Optimizing the Quality, Reach, and Impact of Addiction Services NIDA UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH CLOUTIER, RENEE M (contact); ALDRIDGE, ARNIE PAUL; PRINGLE, JANICE L; SCOTT, KELLI Pittsburgh, PA 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Research to Foster an Opioid Use Disorder Treatment System Patients Can Count On (RM1 - Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-046
Summary:

This project will enhance the measurement, quality, and equity of care delivered in 20 community opioid treatment programs in Pennsylvania by co-designing and implementing measurement-based care tools and systems. The research will inform future use of measurement-based care for opioid treatment in partnership with key stakeholders, as well as explore alternative avenues improving health outcomes, including helping patients remain in treatment.
1R01DA059422-01
Validation of a Virtual Still Face Procedure and Deep Learning Algorithms to Assess Infant Emotion Regulation and Infant-Caregiver Interactions in the Wild Enhanced Outcomes for Infants and Children Exposed to Opioids Virtual Assessments to Understand Developmental Trajectories of Substance Use Exposure NIDA UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN MCELWAIN, NANCY L (contact); HASEGAWA-JOHNSON, MARK ALLAN Champaign, IL 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Development and validation of virtual assessments to study children and caregivers in their natural environment (R01- Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-050
Summary:

Both an infant’s ability to regulate their emotions and infant-parent interactions are critical to healthy brain and behavioral development. Accurate assessment of these factors for research in laboratory settings is technically difficult and burdensome for participants. Next-generation methods that can be used at home, including wearable sensors and machine learning approaches, promise to make it easier to assess infants with prenatal substance exposures. This project will use remote sensing technologies and machine learning to characterize dynamic real-time infant emotion regulation and infant-caregiver interactions throughout the day and in the home.
1K99AT012658-01
A Role for Peripheral NAAA-Regulated Lipid Signaling in the Control of Hyperalgesic Priming Cross-Cutting Research Training the Next Generation of Researchers in HEAL NCCIH UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE FOTIO, YANNICK Irvine, CA 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral-to-Independent Career Transition Award in PAIN and SUD Research (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-22-022
Summary:

Chronic pain remains a significant global heath challenge. Development of novel safe and effective treatments requires a deeper understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie the development of chronic pain. One protein that has been implicated in controlling the transition from acute to chronic pain is N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA). This project will evaluate how NAAA controls pain susceptibility after an acute insult and how this affects the emergence of chronic pain.
1R43HL167661-01A1
Improving Analgesic Effectiveness and Safety with Proactive Precision Pain Management in Thoracic Surgical Patients with Lung Lesions Cross-Cutting Research Small Business Programs NHLBI OPALGENIX, INC. PLUMP, STEVEN R (contact); SADHASIVAM, SENTHILKUMAR Indianapolis, IN 2023
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
1U01DA058541-01
PDE7 Inhibitor for the Treatment of Cocaine Use Disorder Novel Therapeutic Options for Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose Focusing Medication Development to Prevent and Treat Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose NIDA OMEROS CORPORATION GAITANARIS, GEORGE Seattle, WA 2023
NOFO Title: Grand Opportunity in Medications Development for Substance-Use Disorders (U01 - Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: PAR-19-327
Summary:

Currently there are no effective treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for cocaine use disorder. This project will explore the use of a novel class of small molecules that selectively block the molecule phosphodiesterase 7 (PDE7). Past research suggests that the PDE7 class of compounds helps restore normal functions of the dopamine reward system altered by chronic exposure to cocaine. This research will use both preclinical and clinical research studies to develop and test a PDE7 blocker, toward development of the first oral treatment for cocaine use disorder. 
1R44DA058467-01
Development of a Novel Calcium Channel Therapeutic for Opioid Use Disorder Cross-Cutting Research Small Business Programs NIDA VIVREON BIOSCIENCES, LLC GREENBERG, MILTON L San Diego, CA 2023
NOFO Title: Developing Regulated Therapeutic and Diagnostic Solutions for Patients Affected by Opioid and/or Stimulants use Disorders (OUD/StUD) (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-021
Summary:

Hospitalized patients often receive opioids for pain and sleep management, which can contribute to opioid dependence and continued use after leaving the hospital. Even when hospital stays are extended to wean people from opioids, these patients remain at increased risk for opioid use disorder and withdrawal.  This project will develop a novel small molecule medication that blocks nerve inflammation to prevent opioid dependence in hospitalized patients receiving opioids. 
1U19NS130608-01
Human Nociceptor and Spinal Cord Molecular Signature Center Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Treatment of Pain NINDS UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DALLAS PRICE, THEODORE J (contact); CURATOLO, MICHELE; DOUGHERTY, PATRICK M Richardson, TX 2023
NOFO Title: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Encourage Eligible NIH HEAL Initiative Awardees to Apply for Administrative Supplements to Support Career Enhancement Related to Clinical Research on Pain
NOFO Number: NOT-NS-22-087
Summary:

This project supports a post-baccalaureate trainee develop skills needed to pursue a career in clinical pain research. The research will use molecular tools to study nerve, joint, muscle, and fascia tissues from individuals with chronic low back pain who had spine surgery. The research will include working with patients, designing clinical studies, and sharing results. 
3U01DA055359-03S1
HBCD Study Biospecimens Administrative Supplement: Resource Generation for Delivery Specimens Enhanced Outcomes for Infants and Children Exposed to Opioids HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study (HBCD) NIDA UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR BAKHIREVA, LUDMILA NICOLE (contact); LEEMAN, LAWRENCE M Albuquerque, NM 2023
NOFO Title: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): HEAL Initiative: Biospecimen Collection in Pregnancy
NOFO Number: NOT-DA-23-005
Summary:

Opioid use during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes for pregnant individuals and offspring. The mechanisms through which these outcomes arise and the consequences of prenatal opioid exposure on child health and development remain largely unexplored. The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study is a nationwide longitudinal prospective study of early child development that will assess a broad spectrum of biological, behavioral, social, and health factors among 7,500 pregnant women and their children from pregnancy to mid-childhood. This supplement will expand the biospecimen collection of the HBCD protocol at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to include delivery specimens (placenta, cord tissue, and cord blood). This will provide an unprecedented resource-generating opportunity for the larger scientific community to comprehensively evaluate mechanisms that mediate the connection between substance use during pregnancy and adverse neonatal, infant, and/or maternal health outcomes and inform innovative preventive strategies
1R61DA057629-01A1
Chicago Data-driven OUD Screening, Engagement, Treatment and Planning (C-DOSETaP) System Cross-Cutting Research Translating Data 2 Action to Prevent Overdose NIDA UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO KARNIK, NIRANJAN Chicago, IL 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: HEAL Data2Action – Innovation and Acceleration Projects, Phased Awards (R61/R33, Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-057
Summary:

Health services for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) are fragmented in west Chicago, an epicenter for overdose deaths. This project will develop a data-driven opioid response plan involving key partners. These include local health departments, community organizations, health care systems, and people with lived experience. The research will develop a digital screening tool for OUD that can be used in hospitals and their emergency departments. The tool will be built from machine learning of data from electronic health records, the prescription drug monitoring program, and patient-reported measures. The research will test the value of the screening tool for connecting people to treatment and preventing fatal overdoses mortality in local neighborhoods.
1R41NS132625-01A1
Opioid-Sparing Non-Surgical, Bioresorbable Nerve Stimulator for Pain Relief Cross-Cutting Research Small Business Programs NINDS VANISH THERAPEUTICS INC. CUI, XINYAN TRACY Mars, PA 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-23-007
Summary:

Nerve stimulators are devices surgically implanted near a peripheral nerve or on the spinal cord that use electrical signals to reduce the perception of pain. Although these devices can provide effective pain relief to patients, many have high complication rates, resulting from the wire moving, breaking, not working, or the implantable battery pack or permanent wire causing new pain. This project will support the development and animal testing of a peripheral nerve stimulator to treat chronic pain which can be implanted without surgery. Once injected, the device will provide pain relief through electrical stimulation and then be safely degraded and resorbed by the body.
1RM1DA059375-01
HEAL Initiative: Research to Foster an Opioid Use Disorder Treatment System Patients Can Count On Translation of Research to Practice for the Treatment of Opioid Addiction Optimizing the Quality, Reach, and Impact of Addiction Services NIDA RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE MARK, TAMI L Research Triangle Park, NC 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Research to Foster an Opioid Use Disorder Treatment System Patients Can Count On (RM1 - Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-046
Summary:

Although medication-based treatment for opioid use disorder can effectively reduce overdose risk and improve health outcomes, most people discontinue treatment too soon. Quality measures that inform opioid treatment programs about how many patients remain in treatment relative to peer programs could motivate those programs to pursue quality improvement activities, such as helping patients navigate logistical barriers to receiving treatment. This project will test approaches to developing and disseminating retention and outcome measures for opioid treatment programs.
1UG3DA059407-01
Towards Treatment for the Complex Patient: Investigations of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound New Strategies to Prevent and Treat Opioid Addiction Optimizing Care for People with Opioid Use Disorder and Mental Health Conditions NIDA INSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH, INC. LEE, MARY (contact); LEGON, WYNN Washington, D.C 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative: Therapeutics Development for Opioid Use Disorder in Patients with Co-occurring Mental Disorders (UG3/UH3 - Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-23-049
Summary:

Patients with opioid use disorder and co-occurring chronic pain and anxiety are at the highest risk for opioid overdose deaths. Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) is an innovative, noninvasive method that can be used to alter brain activity and potentially repair dysfunctional brain circuits involved in these disorders. This project will examine how LIFU directed to a small but critical brain region implicated in all three of these disorders, the anterior insula, can reduce drug craving, pain response, and anxiety symptoms as well as improve the physiological processes that may underlie the symptoms experienced by these patients.
1K99AR083482-01
Elucidating the Neuroimmune Mechanisms Underlying Pain and Inflammation in Autoimmune Arthritis Cross-Cutting Research Training the Next Generation of Researchers in HEAL NIAMS BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL JAIN, AAKANKSHA Boston, MA 2023
NOFO Title: HEAL Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral-to-Independent Career Transition Award in PAIN and SUD Research (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: RFA-NS-22-022
Summary:

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by episodes of joint inflammation and pain. There are currently no safe and effective treatments that achieve long-term remission of the condition or the associated pain. Many patients use opioid medications to manage the pain and are at increased risk of developing opioid use disorder; therefore, additional treatment options are needed. In rheumatoid arthritis, pain-triggering sensory neurons interact with immune cells in the joints. This project aims to dissect the neuroimmune crosstalk underlying pain and inflammation in arthritic joints and uncover novel therapeutic avenues for this painful condition.