Understanding spinal signals in lupus-related chronic pain
Official title: Identifying the Spinal Molecular Mechanisms of Chronic Pain Induced by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Funded at Northern California Health Services and Research Foundation · NIH-11361372 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how a protein called YTHDF2 and its pathway in the spinal cord contribute to chronic pain in people with lupus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern California Health Services and Research Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Sacramento, United States) |
| Project start | September 8, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $412,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AR087723-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361372 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who experience chronic joint pain may ultimately benefit from new targets identified by this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without lupus or without chronic pain may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project looks at why people with systemic lupus erythematosus develop long-lasting pain by studying the spinal cord and immune signals. Researchers will focus on a human-relevant protein pathway (YTHDF2 and KCTD20) and how it affects nerve activity and inflammation in lupus-related pain. Using animal models and cellular tools, the study will test if altering YTHDF2 binding changes pain signaling and inflammatory factors in the spinal dorsal horn. The work could point to new targets for safer pain medicines specifically for lupus patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new treatments that reduce lupus-related chronic pain with fewer side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that spinal inflammation and neuronal activation contribute to lupus pain, but this project explores a novel YTHDF2 pathway.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern California Health Services and Research Foundation
Sacramento, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weng, Han-Rong — Northern California Health Services and Research Foundation
- Study coordinator: Weng, Han-Rong
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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.