U19NS130608

Human Nociceptor and Spinal Cord Molecular Signature Center

Our collaborative groups, led by Drs. Price at UT Dallas (UTD), Dougherty at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), and Curatolo at University of Washington (UW), have been on the forefront of using human Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) and other tissues to understand mechanisms that cause chronic pain in patients. Our work is on the leading edge of transcriptomic studies that have revealed unique features of the human DRG at the single neuron level.

The goal of this project is to create the scientific foundation that will empower pain researchers around the world to approach the problem of treating pain in a new way, deeply rooted in a fundamental understanding of the first neurons and first synapses in the pain pathway.

Our center will focus on two prioritized aims. The first is identifying molecular phenotypes, using single cell and spatial transcriptomic technologies, of human sensory neurons from the DRG in organ donor recovered tissues and in patients suffering from chronic pain who are having surgeries where DRGs or peripheral nerves are removed. We will use this information to understand how nociceptors are activated in chronic pain disorders, with a focus on neuropathic pain, chronic neck pain, and low back pain. These chronic pain disorders are the most disabling and the latter two are poorly modeled in animals.

The second aim is to use spinal cord recovered from organ donors for single cell and spatial profiling with the goal of understanding the connectome of the human pain pathway at the first synapse. We will provide an integrated view of how nociceptors likely communicate with spinal cord neurons with the goal of understanding the pharmacology of projection neurons that send nociceptive signals to the brain to create pain perception.

Our established collaboration and demonstrated track record of productivity ensures the success of this complex project. We envision creating actionable knowledge and data resources that can transform our understanding of human pain conditions, leading to the generation of the treatments pain patients need.

University Of Texas At Dallas

TO SUPPORT BASIC AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE, BIOMEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, EPIDEMIOLOGIC, HEALTH SERVICES AND HEALTH DISPARITY RESEARCH. TO DEVELOP NEW KNOWLEDGE AND APPROACHES RELATED TO THE PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, ETIOLOGY, AND CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION, INCLUDING HIV/AIDS. TO SUPPORT RESEARCH TRAINING AND RESEARCH SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT. TO SUPPORT DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) LEGISLATION IS INTENDED TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SBIR PROGRAMS TO EMPHASIZE AND INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED THROUGH FEDERAL SBIR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN THE SBIR PROGRAM. THE LEGISLATION INTENDS THAT THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.279 - Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NNDS) [HHS - NIH]

Richardson, Texas 750803021 United States

Single Zip Code

HEAL Initiative: Discovery and Functional Evaluation of Human Pain-associated Genes and Cells (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-NS-22-018)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 291% from $2,367,318 to $9,264,871.