How different injuries make light touch painful
Investigation of Mechanical Allodynia Circuitry by the Nature of the Injury
Researchers are mapping why touch becomes painful after different injuries to help people with chronic touch-triggered pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11303448 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
They will study nerve-cell circuits in the spinal cord (the dorsal horn) that turn normal touch into pain, comparing inflammatory, diabetic, and chemotherapy-related nerve injuries. Using lab models that mimic type 1 and type 2 diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapeutic neuropathy, and other nerve injuries, the team will identify which excitatory and inhibitory neuron populations drive mechanical allodynia. The researchers will use genetic, physiological, and behavioral approaches to turn specific neurons on or off and measure touch-evoked pain responses. This work builds on prior circuit mapping and aims to reveal specific spinal cord targets for future pain therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with persistent touch-evoked pain (mechanical allodynia) from diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, or nerve injury would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People whose pain is not triggered by touch (for example predominantly burning pain or headache) may not find this work directly relevant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new spinal-cord targets for treatments that block touch-triggered pain while preserving normal sensation.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have identified related spinal cord neuron groups linked to touch-evoked pain, but moving from circuit findings to human treatments is still early.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seal, Rebecca P — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Seal, Rebecca P
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.