Mapping nerve cells in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion linked to pain
Mapping the human DRG and spinal cord functional genome at cellular and spatial resolution
This project uses advanced gene-mapping and spatial sequencing on human nerve tissues from organ donors and adults with chronic pain to find which nerve cell types and gene regulators relate to pain across ages and sexes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171496 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will collect dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord tissues from adult organ donors and from people with chronic pain undergoing surgery. Researchers will apply spatial sequencing, SPLiT-seq single-cell transcriptomics, and single-nucleus ATAC-seq to map which genes are active in which cell types and where those cells sit in the tissue. They will compare samples across ages, sexes, and pain status to identify cell-type-specific changes associated with chronic pain. The combined DRG and spinal cord maps are intended to reveal human-specific nerve cell types and regulatory elements that differ from animal models and may point to targets for new therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults (21+) with chronic pain who are undergoing spinal or nerve surgery and can consent to donate tissue, or families of organ donors who consent to tissue donation.
Not a fit: People under 21, those without chronic pain, or patients not undergoing relevant surgery are unlikely to be enrolled or receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the maps could reveal human-specific nerve cell types and gene targets to guide new, more precise pain treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have produced cell atlases and shown important species differences, and this project builds on those methods by combining spatial, transcriptomic, and regulatory mapping in human DRG and spinal cord at scale.
Where this research is happening
Richardson, United States
- University of Texas Dallas — Richardson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Price, Theodore J. — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Price, Theodore J.
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.