Using natural nerve peptides to quiet spinal pain
Neuropeptidergic Inhibition of Spinal Pain Transmission
Researchers are developing drugs that mimic a natural peptide to calm spinal nerve circuits that drive long-lasting neuropathic pain for people with nerve-injury pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11241136 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how the natural brain chemical neuropeptide Y acts on specific spinal cord neurons that amplify pain after nerve injury. In lab models, scientists record electrical signals from spinal cord tissue, use high-resolution microscopy to map nerve connections, and use precise tools to silence or remove the neurons thought to cause pain. They test whether targeting the Y1 receptor on these neurons can stop the pain-amplifying circuit and reduce pain behaviors in animals, with the aim of finding drug approaches that could be tried in people later.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with chronic neuropathic pain from a clearly identified nerve injury who are interested in new treatment options and future clinical testing would be the most likely candidates for follow-up trials.
Not a fit: People whose pain is not neuropathic (for example primarily joint or muscle pain) or who have generalized pain conditions without a clear nerve-injury component are less likely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new, more targeted pain medicines that relieve neuropathic pain with fewer side effects than current treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical work in mice shows that modulating NPY/Y1-related pathways can reduce nerve-injury pain signs, but translation to human treatments has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Taylor, Bradley K. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Taylor, Bradley K.
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.