Helping the immune system heal after limb injuries to reduce long-term pain
Autonomic Regulation of the Immunological Response to Limb Injury
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · VETERANS ADMIN PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYS · NIH-11400846
This project looks for ways to calm nerve-driven immune reactions after limb injuries so people recover faster with less chronic pain.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VETERANS ADMIN PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYS (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PALO ALTO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11400846 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have persistent pain after a broken or injured limb, this project connects what happens in your nerves to changes in the immune system that can prolong pain. Researchers will use a well-established rodent fracture model alongside blood and tissue samples from patients with chronic limb pain to track immune signals like IL-6, autoantibodies, and complement activation. The team plans to interrupt sympathetic (fight-or-flight) nerve signals that may trigger harmful immune responses and measure whether that improves healing and function. Findings could point to new treatments that stop immune-driven pain early and improve recovery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who experienced traumatic limb injury and now have ongoing pain or disability, or those willing to provide blood or tissue samples for research.
Not a fit: Patients without limb trauma-related problems or those unable to provide samples or attend study visits are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that reduce chronic pain and improve recovery after limb injuries by blocking harmful nerve-driven immune responses.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked immune changes to chronic pain and shown benefits from targeting inflammatory mediators, but using autonomic nervous system modulation to prevent post-injury autoimmunity is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
PALO ALTO, UNITED STATES
- VETERANS ADMIN PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYS — PALO ALTO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CLARK, DAVID J. — VETERANS ADMIN PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYS
- Study coordinator: CLARK, DAVID J.
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.