CaMPARI tool to map eye nerve cells and their function
Official title: Application and Dissemination of the BRAIN Initiative Tool CaMPARI
Funded at University of New England · NIH-11357536 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A feasibility project to use CaMPARI3, a brain-mapping tool, to link how corneal nerve cells respond to stimuli with their molecular identities in people at UNE.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New England NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Biddeford, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $319,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R34NS148215-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11357536 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with corneal pain conditions or dry-eye symptoms that could be studied through tissue or samples in research settings, performed under appropriate ethical approvals.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy volunteers or unrelated ocular conditions with no involvement of corneal pain mechanisms may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will test whether CaMPARI3 can label functionally distinct corneal-innervating neurons in healthy and dry-eye conditions, by triggering photoconversion during stimulation and then profiling the cells. Researchers will use multiplex RNAscope to connect how neurons behave to their RNA markers, creating a molecular map of corneal pain pathways. In addition, the plan includes broad access at UNE through summer courses, virtual trainings, and online resources to spread this technique to other researchers. The work aims to lay groundwork for future studies of chronic corneal pain and potential new treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with corneal pain could benefit from better understanding of the nerve types involved and future targeted therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Similar optical labeling approaches have advanced neuroscience research, but applying CaMPARI3 to human-related corneal neurons is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New England
Biddeford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meng, Ian D — University of New England
- Study coordinator: Meng, Ian D
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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.