B cells' role in nerve pain after injury
Official title: Regulation of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain by B Cells
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11284098 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers want to find out whether immune cells called B cells cause or keep nerve pain after a peripheral injury, which could point to new treatments for people with neuropathic pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $538,681 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS126252-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11284098 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with chronic peripheral neuropathic pain following nerve injury (for example from trauma, surgery, or certain neuropathies) would be the most relevant candidates for related future trials or therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-neuropathic pain conditions, pain driven solely by central nervous system causes, or pain unrelated to peripheral nerve injury are unlikely to benefit from findings focused on peripheral B cell mechanisms.
What this research studies
This research looks at what happens to B cells after a peripheral nerve injury and whether they turn into plasma cells that make autoantibodies. In lab models, scientists will study how those antibodies form complexes and signal through Fc gamma receptors along pain pathways, and they'll test what happens when B cells are depleted or genetically altered. They will also explore whether poor clearance of dying cells (efferocytosis) at the injury site triggers the autoimmune B cell response. Although much of the work uses animal models and lab assays, the goal is to identify immune-related targets that could be developed into treatments for people with chronic nerve pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to immune targets—such as B cells, plasma cells, or antibody signaling—that lead to new treatments to reduce or prevent chronic neuropathic pain.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies, including the investigators' own data, show that removing differentiating B cells can protect mice from neuropathic pain, but moving these findings into effective human treatments is still early and unproven.
Where this research is happening
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University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grace, Peter M — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Grace, Peter M
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.