Uncovering how oxysterols drive nerve-pain signals
Official title: Uncovering the roles of oxysterols in neuropathic pain
Funded at Saint Louis University · NIH-11349606 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher is studying how certain fat-derived chemicals called oxysterols and glial cells in the spinal cord may cause chronic neuropathic pain, with the aim of finding non-opioid ways to relieve it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Saint Louis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $532,772 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS128004-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11349606 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with chronic neuropathic pain or those at risk of developing it after nerve injury who may benefit from non-opioid therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without neuropathic pain or those unlikely to respond to glial-targeted therapies may receive no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on the role of oxysterols and a receptor called GPR183 in spinal cord glial cells after nerve injury to understand why neuropathic pain persists. Researchers used computer modeling to find promising small molecules that block GPR183 and tested them in lab assays and animal pain models. The most promising compound, SAE-14, showed high potency and selectively blocked GPR183 without hitting hundreds of other receptors, and it reversed pain behaviors in injured animals. The goal is to identify a new, non-addictive approach to treat neuropathic pain that could someday be translated to patients. The work builds on prior findings and pushes toward a novel therapeutic strategy that targets glial signaling pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a new non-opioid treatment for neuropathic pain in people.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies showed that blocking GPR183 can reduce pain in animal models, but human applicability remains to be established.
Where this research is happening
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Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salvemini, Daniela — Saint Louis University
- Study coordinator: Salvemini, Daniela
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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.