Neuromodulators and spinal pain pathways in adults after early life injury
Official title: Neuromodulatory regulation of synaptic plasticity in spinal nociceptive circuits
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11417026 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how brain signaling chemicals change the way pain pathways in the spine strengthen signals, which could explain why people who had an injury as a child sometimes feel more pain later.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $601,309 |
| NIH project number | 4R37NS122141-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417026 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with a history of early life injury who may develop heightened pain sensitivity in adulthood.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of early injury or those not experiencing heightened pain may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how receptors and brain chemicals like dopamine influence the strengthening of pain-sensing connections in the spinal cord. They will focus on how early life injury might prime these circuits so that adult pain becomes more persistent. The project uses experiments to map the signals that lead to stronger pain transmission at synapses in the spinal nociceptive pathway. Findings could reveal targets to reduce long-term pain amplification and improve treatments for chronic pain. The effort combines neurobiology, animal models, and human-relevant signaling concepts to understand adult pain after early injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of why early injuries can lead to lasting pain and potential new targets for reducing chronic pain in affected individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Past work shows that neuromodulation can influence synaptic plasticity related to pain, but specific links between neonatal injury and adult spinal plasticity are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baccei, Mark L — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Baccei, Mark L
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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.