How the human pain receptor TRPV1 responds to heat, acid, and chemicals
Understanding human TRPV1 polymodal activation
This project explores how the human pain receptor TRPV1 reacts to heat, low pH, and chemical triggers to help guide safer, more effective pain medicines for people with chronic pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323539 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, scientists are probing the human TRPV1 protein, which helps sense painful heat and chemical signals. They will use tools like nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrical recordings to see how different triggers open or change the receptor. The team aims to map which parts of TRPV1 control each kind of response and how different activation modes interact. These lab findings are intended to steer drug designs that relieve pain while avoiding side effects such as body-temperature problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: There is no direct patient enrollment; the results are most relevant to people with chronic pain from nerve injury or inflammatory conditions who might benefit from future TRPV1-targeted therapies.
Not a fit: Patients whose pain is unrelated to TRPV1-driven mechanisms or who need immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-only project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide new pain drugs that block harmful TRPV1 activity without causing dangerous body-temperature changes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical efforts to block TRPV1 have reduced pain in some cases but often caused fever or body-temperature issues, so this work builds on that history to find safer approaches.
Where this research is happening
Scottsdale, United States
- Arizona State University-Tempe Campus — Scottsdale, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Horn, Wade D. — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Van Horn, Wade D.
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.