How mitochondria affect pain sensitivity and chronic pain development
Official title: Mitochondrial Regulation of Nociceptor Function
Funded at University of New England · NIH-11015773 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tiny parts of our cells called mitochondria affect pain-sensing nerves and how this might help us understand why some people develop long-lasting pain after an injury, with the hope of finding better ways to treat pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New England NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Biddeford, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $361,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS131571-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11015773 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals experiencing acute inflammatory pain or those at risk of developing chronic pain conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chronic pain conditions unrelated to mitochondrial dysfunction may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of mitochondria in the function of pain-sensing neurons and how their regulation may influence the transition from acute to chronic pain. By examining the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved, the study aims to understand how mitochondrial dynamics can affect pain responses following injury. Patients may benefit from insights gained through experiments that explore the effects of mitochondrial function on pain sensitivity, potentially leading to new treatment options for managing pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative therapies for managing acute and chronic pain more effectively.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the role of mitochondrial function in pain mechanisms, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New England
Biddeford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Molliver, Derek C — University of New England
- Study coordinator: Molliver, Derek C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Engineered protein materials to study wound healing and blood vessels
A researcher team at the University of New England is studying how the environment around a protein changes its behavior to better understand wound healing and blood vessel formation.
-
Central and Peripheral Mechanisms of Corneal Pain
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.
-
HIV Tat and nerve pain in people with HIV: how immune pathways may drive HIV-related neuropathy
A patient-facing look at a grant studying how a protein from HIV (Tat) may trigger nerve pain in people with HIV through immune pathways, with findings that could lead to new treatments.
-
How disrupting sensory nerve signals affects tibial bone density
This NIH grant studies how cutting signals from sensory nerves near the shin bone may change bone mass to help prevent fractures.
-
Understanding why sex differences affect advanced knee osteoarthritis pain
Researchers are studying why men and women experience osteoarthritis pain differently, focusing on how pain changes from mid-stage to advanced stages and how biology in nerves may drive these differences.
-
How the immune system’s CD4+ T cells in women might prevent chemotherapy-related nerve pain
A study in mice explores whether female immune cells in nerve tissue can lessen pain from chemotherapy, with potential implications for preventing CIPN in women.
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.