Using a specific brain circuit to ease chronic nerve pain
Targeting the Mesocortical Glutamatergic Pathway for Chronic Pain Treatment
Researchers are exploring whether changing a particular brain circuit can ease long-term nerve (neuropathic) pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238541 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses mouse models of nerve injury to study a pathway from the ventral tegmental area to the prefrontal cortex that may drive chronic neuropathic pain. Scientists will watch neuron activity with in vivo calcium imaging and will turn specific neurons on or off using chemogenetic and optogenetic tools. They will also use CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to modify molecular signals in those neurons to see if restoring glutamate signaling brings back normal brain activity. The goal is to link circuit changes to pain behaviors so future human treatments can target the same pathway.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with long-lasting neuropathic (nerve) pain who have not found adequate relief from current treatments could be the eventual candidates for therapies stemming from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose pain is not caused by nerve injury or who have conditions unrelated to the studied brain circuit may not benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new brain-circuit-based treatments that reduce chronic neuropathic pain.
How similar studies have performed: Related animal studies that activated prefrontal circuits have reduced pain behaviors, but translating these circuit-based approaches into safe human therapies is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Guang — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Yang, Guang
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 below.