Central and Peripheral Mechanisms of Corneal Pain
Funded at University of New England · NIH-11418847 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how corneal pain arises and is processed, with the goal of better understanding and one day reducing corneal pain for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New England NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Biddeford, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,314,396 |
| NIH project number | 5U01EY034709-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418847 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with corneal pain or inflammatory eye conditions could benefit from advances arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefits are not guaranteed during the early basic/translational phases and may come after further development.
What this research studies
This project studies the nerves in the cornea and how they signal pain after injury. Researchers will map gene activity in mouse corneal neurons and compare it with human nerve cells to see what makes corneal pain unique. They will also examine brain regions that process eye pain and how signals from the cornea influence chronic pain and motivation-related responses. Findings could point to new ways to relieve chronic corneal pain and improve eye comfort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of corneal pain pathways could lead to new treatments for chronic eye pain and improved comfort.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggests distinct corneal pain pathways, and similar translational approaches have informed pain mechanisms in other tissues.
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
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.