Investigating a brain pathway to treat chronic pain
Official title: Targeting the Mesocortical Glutamatergic Pathway for Chronic Pain Treatment
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11056287 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a part of the brain that helps control pain works when someone has chronic pain, and it aims to find new ways to help people feel better by fixing how this brain area functions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $246,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS137066-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11056287 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from chronic neuropathic pain, particularly those with a history of nerve injuries.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute pain conditions or those not experiencing neuropathic pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how a specific brain pathway, known as the mesocortical pathway, is involved in chronic pain conditions. By examining the role of glutamate signaling in this pathway, the researchers aim to identify how nerve injuries affect pain perception. They will use advanced techniques such as in vivo imaging and gene editing to explore changes in brain activity related to pain. The goal is to find new ways to alleviate chronic pain by restoring normal brain function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative treatments for chronic pain that target specific brain pathways.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results in targeting brain pathways for pain management, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Guang — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Yang, Guang
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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.