Shared biological drivers of long-lasting pain
The conserved mechanisms underlying different types of chronic pain
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · NIH-11145111
Researchers are looking for a common spinal-cord pathway that makes different kinds of pain persist, with the goal of helping people who live with chronic pain.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11145111 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From my perspective, the team is studying how changes in tiny structures on nerve cells in the spinal cord make pain stick around. They focus on molecules that shape the cell's internal skeleton, like Rac1 and its regulator Tiam1, and on how receptors such as NMDA and TrkB trigger those changes. Most work uses laboratory models to trace the chain of events from nerve activity to long-term increases in pain sensitivity. If these steps point to one druggable target, it could guide treatments that help many people with chronic pain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with ongoing chronic pain from a range of causes (for example nerve injury or persistent inflammatory pain) would be the kinds of patients most likely connected to this research or future trials.
Not a fit: People with only short-term acute pain or pain unrelated to spinal cord neural plasticity may not directly benefit from this basic-science work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that reduce long-term pain by blocking the molecular process that stabilizes pain-producing changes in the spinal cord.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have linked Rac1 and dendritic spine changes to chronic pain, but applying a single target like Tiam1/Rac1 across many pain types is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM — BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LI, LINGYONG — UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- Study coordinator: LI, LINGYONG
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.