Understanding Pain After Spinal Cord Injury
Official title: Exploring the EphB2-NMDA receptor interaction in spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain
Funded at Thomas Jefferson University · NIH-11143076 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how certain brain signals contribute to long-lasting pain after a spinal cord injury, hoping to find new ways to help patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Thomas Jefferson University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $606,261 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS110385-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143076 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients experiencing chronic, difficult-to-treat neuropathic pain following a spinal cord injury are the focus of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose pain is not related to spinal cord injury or is not neuropathic in nature may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many people experience severe, ongoing pain after a spinal cord injury that is very hard to treat. Our team is focusing on two specific brain signals, called EphB2 and NMDA receptors, and how they work together in the spinal cord's pain pathways. We believe that by understanding how these signals interact and cause nerve cells to become overactive, we can uncover new ways to calm this pain. This work aims to identify new targets for treatments that could offer relief without relying on opioids.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, more effective treatments for the chronic, severe pain that often follows a spinal cord injury.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds on the team's own discoveries about the specific mechanism of interaction between EphB2 and NMDA receptors, suggesting a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lepore, Angelo C. — Thomas Jefferson University
- Study coordinator: Lepore, Angelo C.
Related research
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Testing a new treatment for neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury in pigs
This study is exploring a new way to help people with nerve pain from spinal cord injuries by testing a special treatment in pigs that closely resemble human conditions, to see if it can effectively reduce their pain.
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.