How pain-sensing nerves change in chronic neuropathic pain

Profiling Translation in Nociceptor Plasticity

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · NIH-11245300

This project looks at how a stress-control protein called GCN2 changes protein production in pain-sensing nerves to help adults with chronic nerve pain.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON (nih funded)
Locations1 site (MADISON, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11245300 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

You would learn that researchers study pain-sensing nerve cells (nociceptors) to see how they change protein production during neuropathic pain. They use a cutting-edge genomics method to map which proteins are made in the dorsal root ganglia and a novel in vivo CRISPR/Cas9 approach to alter genes like GCN2 in lab models. The work focuses on the integrated stress response and how GCN2 affects nerve excitability that can keep pain going. The goal is to identify molecular changes that could point to new treatments to reduce persistent nerve pain.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with chronic neuropathic pain (long-lasting nerve pain) would be the people most likely to benefit or to join related future studies.

Not a fit: People with short-term acute pain, non-neuropathic pain (like simple muscle strain), or children are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets that lead to better treatments for neuropathic (chronic nerve) pain.

How similar studies have performed: Translational profiling and in vivo CRISPR approaches have been powerful in lab models, but applying them to GCN2 and neuropathic pain is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

MADISON, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.