Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco a Project Grant of $1,179,715 under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) program, effective March 15, 2026, with completion targeted for January 31, 2034. This award supports fundamental and translational research investigating pain mechanisms through a multifaceted approach spanning molecular to physiological levels. The research examines how nociceptors—specialized sensory nerve fibers—detect, integrate, and transmit noxious signals associated with acute protective pain and chronic pathological pain conditions.

The project employs advanced biophysical, biochemical, and pharmacological methodologies to characterize ion channel function, particularly transient receptor potential (TRP) channels critical to nociception. The research incorporates cutting-edge structural biology techniques including electron cryo-microscopy and tomography to visualize signaling complexes within cellular membranes and native nociceptor environments. At the integrative level, the study probes intero-nociceptive mechanisms by investigating interactions between primary afferent nociceptors and tissues to elucidate signal detection and transmission to the spinal cord. This research directly supports NINDS's mission to advance fundamental knowledge of nervous system function and reduce the burden of neurological disease through peer-reviewed, investigator-initiated research.