Extracellular RNA markers to predict who will develop chronic pain after surgery or injury
A2CPS ExRNA Component
This project uses tiny RNAs found in body fluids to help identify people after surgery or injury who might develop long-term pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168948 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be followed after an acute pain event (a specific surgery or musculoskeletal injury) with samples taken at enrollment, 3 months, and 6 months. The project measures extracellular RNAs (exRNAs) in blood and other biofluids and combines those measurements with other molecular and clinical data from large groups of participants. The team plans to validate 40 primary biomarkers linked to risk or resilience for chronic pain and to search for new candidate markers. Samples are collected at clinical centers and analyzed as part of a centralized omics data effort led by UC San Diego.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who recently had a specified surgical procedure or a musculoskeletal injury and can provide biofluid samples and return for 3- and 6-month follow-ups.
Not a fit: People without a recent acute pain episode, those with long-standing chronic pain, or those unable to give follow-up samples are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow doctors to identify people at higher risk for developing chronic pain and tailor early treatments to prevent it.
How similar studies have performed: Early research has found links between exRNA levels and pain, but using exRNA biomarkers in large, multi-center cohorts to predict chronic pain is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Laurent, Louise Chang — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Laurent, Louise Chang
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 below.