Targeting a specific protein to reduce nerve damage from chemotherapy
Official title: Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome for the treatment of Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11033067 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether blocking a specific protein can help reduce the painful nerve damage that some cancer patients experience from chemotherapy, with the hope of making their treatment more comfortable and improving their quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $181,448 |
| NIH project number | 1R21CA296516-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11033067 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 who are experiencing peripheral neuropathy as a side effect of paclitaxel chemotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing chemotherapy or those who do not experience peripheral neuropathy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome can help alleviate chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a painful condition that affects many cancer patients receiving paclitaxel. By studying the effects of this protein in animal models, the researchers aim to understand its role in causing nerve damage and explore potential treatments that could improve patients' quality of life. The study will involve testing whether blocking the NLRP3 inflammasome can reduce the symptoms associated with CIPN, potentially leading to better outcomes for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly reduce nerve pain and improve the quality of life for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: While this approach is novel in the context of CIPN, similar strategies targeting inflammasomes have shown promise in other inflammatory conditions.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Damaj, M. Imad — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Damaj, M. Imad
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Non-invasive, microscopic biomarkers to detect CIPN in chemotherapy patients
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).
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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.
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A new screen for chemotherapy-related nerve problems in young children
A clinician-scientist at Yale is developing a child-friendly survey to quickly screen for nerve-related side effects from cancer treatment in kids from birth to age 5.
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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.
-
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.
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.