Targeting chronic pain in sickle cell disease
Official title: Molecular Mechanism and Targeting of Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11266190 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is developing new drug approaches to reduce ongoing pain for people living with sickle cell disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2032 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,048,594 |
| NIH project number | 5R35HL177406-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11266190 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with sickle cell disease who experience chronic pain or frequent painful crises would be the intended beneficiaries and potential future trial participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without sickle cell disease or anyone expecting immediate personal relief from this preclinical lab research should not expect direct benefit right now.
What this research studies
This project looks at why people with sickle cell disease have long-lasting pain by studying the biology of nerves and molecular signals using well-established mouse models that carry the human sickle mutation. The team will examine epigenetic factors like microRNAs and nerve-related enzymes to find the molecular drivers of chronic pain. They will test candidate drug treatments in these models to see whether blocking those signals reduces pain-related behaviors. If promising, the findings would guide development of medicines that could later be tested in people with sickle cell disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new medications that meaningfully reduce chronic and crisis pain for people with sickle cell disease.
How similar studies have gone: Researchers have used the Berkeley and Townes sickle cell mouse models before to study disease biology, but targeting the neurobiology of chronic sickle cell pain for new drugs remains relatively novel and current treatments are often insufficient.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Zaijie Jim — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Wang, Zaijie Jim
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Sickle cell pain: understanding patient-centered outcomes, new biomarkers, and long-term health effects
This study looks at how chronic pain in adults with sickle cell disease affects daily life and what biomarkers might reveal about long-term outcomes.
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Using dronabinol to help reduce chronic pain and inflammation in sickle cell disease
This study is looking at how a medication called dronabinol, which contains THC, can help reduce chronic pain and inflammation in adults with sickle cell disease, and it will compare its effects to a placebo over eight weeks to see if it improves pain, quality of life, and safety for those who take it.
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Using the Mediterranean diet to help reduce chronic pain in sickle cell disease
This study is looking at whether eating a Mediterranean diet can help reduce chronic pain for adults with sickle cell disease, and it involves trying out this diet for four weeks to see how it affects their health and pain levels.
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Understanding and treating chronic pain in sickle cell disease
This study is looking into how sickle cell disease causes chronic pain and aims to find better ways to help manage that pain for people living with the condition.
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Exploring how gut bacteria and inflammation affect pain in sickle cell disease
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might affect pain levels in people with sickle cell disease, with the hope of finding new ways to help manage pain without relying on opioids.
-
Digital twins of the spleen to help design better therapies for sickle cell disease
A computer-driven replica of the spleen is being developed to speed up creating safer and more effective treatments for people with sickle cell disease.
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.