Non-invasive, microscopic biomarkers to detect CIPN in chemotherapy patients
Official title: Non-invasive, quantitative microscopic biomarkers for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11473607 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant aims to develop a non-invasive imaging method to measure nerve changes in patients undergoing chemotherapy to better understand and monitor chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | February 21, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $40,120 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA301271-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11473607 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cancer receiving chemotherapy who are at risk for CIPN and can undergo skin imaging with portable confocal microscopy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing CIPN or unable to participate in skin imaging may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Chemotherapy can cause CIPN, leading to numbness, pain, and functional problems that may limit treatment. The project will use portable confocal microscopy to visualize and quantify nerve-ending changes in the skin, focusing on Meissner’s corpuscles in fingers and toes. By linking imaging findings with patient-reported symptoms and other sensory measures, the study seeks to create objective, repeatable biomarkers that track CIPN over time. This approach builds on a prior exploratory study and aims to establish reliable, non-invasive tools for clinicians to monitor CIPN during and after chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive earlier and more precise monitoring of CIPN, potentially guiding treatment adjustments and improving quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work suggests a correlation between MC density and CIPN, indicating potential for a reliable biomarker, but broader validation is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kang, Dongkyun — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Kang, Dongkyun
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Longitudinal study of how body-sense relates to chemotherapy nerve damage
This study follows people with breast or gastrointestinal cancer and healthy controls to see if brain processing of body sensations contributes to chemotherapy-induced nerve damage.
-
A new screen for chemotherapy-related nerve problems in young children
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How the immune system’s CD4+ T cells in women might prevent chemotherapy-related nerve pain
A study in mice explores whether female immune cells in nerve tissue can lessen pain from chemotherapy, with potential implications for preventing CIPN in women.
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Axonal transport and chemotherapy-related nerve pain
This grant studies why certain cancer patients develop painful nerve damage from chemotherapy and explores ways to prevent or treat it.
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Remote monitoring and nurse follow-up to manage chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
A program uses symptom reporting tools with nurse follow-up to reduce and better manage chemotherapy-induced neuropathy for cancer survivors, during and after treatment.
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Non-opioid pain relief for chemotherapy-related nerve pain using CART II
A study tests a brain-acting peptide called CART II to help reduce pain from chemotherapy-induced nerve damage without opioids.
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.