SN102: a gene therapy idea to ease trigeminal neuralgia pain
Official title: SN102: a Novel Gene Therapy for Trigeminal Neuralgia Pain
Funded at Sereneuro Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11312165 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new gene therapy approach aims to durably ease trigeminal neuralgia pain with a one-time treatment delivered locally to peripheral nerves.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sereneuro Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2026 |
| Project end | September 22, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $338,115 |
| NIH project number | 1R43DE035747-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11312165 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with trigeminal neuralgia or related neuropathic facial pain conditions who are candidates for gene therapy approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to gene therapy or those with contraindications to viral delivery may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on a gene-editing therapy called SN102 designed to insert a pain-dampening allele into peripheral pain-sensing neurons. It uses base editing and AAV-based delivery to target nociceptors, aiming for long-lasting relief after a single treatment. Researchers will test SN102 in human iPSC-derived nociceptors to measure functional changes and optimize neuron-specific delivery regulators. The work builds on mouse model data showing persistence of pain relief and moves toward a human-cell proof of concept.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience long-lasting relief from neuropathic facial pain with a targeted, local treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Similar gene-therapy approaches have shown concept feasibility in preclinical pain models, with early cellular evidence supporting the approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Sereneuro Therapeutics, INC.
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saragnese, Daniel — Sereneuro Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Saragnese, Daniel
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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.