Precision gene therapy for severe pain in older adults
Toward Precision Gene Therapy for Treatment of Severe Pain in Older Individuals
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · NIH-11267977
A team is developing an AAV gene-delivery treatment to calm pain-sensing nerves and help older adults with severe, hard-to-treat pain.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11267977 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project is designing AAV gene-delivery tools that are aimed specifically at primary pain-sensing nerve cells (nociceptors). Researchers will create ways to reduce how often those nerves fire and confirm those effects using electrical measurements in mouse neurons and in human nerve cells made from stem cells. They will test the approach in aged animal pain models to mimic older adults and gather proof-of-concept efficacy data. Successful preclinical results would support further development toward human trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults with severe, treatment-resistant pain who cannot tolerate or do not respond to standard pain medications are the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People with short-term acute pain, pain not driven by nociceptor activity, or those unwilling to consider gene-based therapies are unlikely to benefit from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a long-lasting, non-opioid treatment that reduces severe pain in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Related AAV gene-therapy approaches have shown promising pain reduction in animal studies, but human evidence is limited and this specific targeting strategy remains largely untested in people.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WAINGER, BRIAN JASON — MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: WAINGER, BRIAN JASON
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.