Understanding spinal pain pathways in people with SCI
Official title: Spinal nociceptive and non-nociceptive processing of cutaneous input in people with SCI
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11454486 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how spinal cord injury changes the way pain signals are processed, with the goal of developing better ways to relieve neuropathic pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | August 21, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $226,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS144927-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454486 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with spinal cord injury experiencing neuropathic pain who can undergo non-invasive or minimally invasive assessments.
✕Less likely to help
People without spinal cord injury or without neuropathic pain may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
People living with spinal cord injuries often experience neuropathic pain that is hard to treat. The project aims to map how pain and non-pain signals in the spinal cord interact, which could reveal new targets for therapy. Researchers plan to use human participants to explore these neural pathways and how they relate to pain and function. If successful, findings could inform multimodal approaches that minimize side effects and improve quality of life for SCI patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of spinal pain pathways could lead to more effective, targeted treatments for neuropathic pain in SCI.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies suggest spinal pathways change after SCI; this study seeks direct data in people with SCI.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thompson, Aiko — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Thompson, Aiko
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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.