Interdisciplinary Center of Excellence for the Study of Pain and Sensory Function

慢性疼痛的治疗仍然依赖于老的药物，如加巴喷丁类药物、再摄取阻滞剂和 阿片类药物，所有这些都有严重的副作用，降低生活质量。对阿片类药物产生耐受性， 长期使用和类阿片处方的增加导致类阿片成瘾流行病日益严重。 迫切需要找到治疗急性和慢性疼痛的替代疗法。的目标 COBRE第二阶段将继续发展疼痛和感觉功能研究中心 这将大大有助于对急性和慢性疼痛的神经生物学的科学理解， 促进新疗法的发现。在第一阶段取得了重大进展： 成功地获得了NIH的支持和三项COBRE试点项目赠款， 后来得到了校外的支持。征聘目标超额完成， 高级和初级教师到我们的中心。建立了两个研究中心， 是通过翻新而成的。该中心将继续在这些成就的基础上再接再厉， COBRE支持该计划获得额外的机构投资。我们的研究核心将继续 与其他区域IDEA计划资助机构的人员合作，有效利用我们的资源 我们致力于提高可持续性。具体目标1将创造一个临界质量的疼痛研究人员 必须维持一个充满活力的研究中心，并提高他们的竞争能力，为校外研究 支持.这一目标将通过促进四个当前UNE的疼痛相关研究项目来实现 谁没有收到R01或类似的研究项目补助金支持的教师。此外，本发明还提供了一种方法， 政府会拨款进行试验计划，以支持早期但具创意的疼痛研究。最后我们 将招募另外三名研究人员，他们的研究项目将补充现有的研究项目。 教师。具体目标2将扩大UNE的神经科学研究基础设施，提供核心 设施，使研究人员能够进行尖端研究的神经生物学过程中所涉及的 慢性疼痛的发展。这一目标将通过资助关键支助人员和 为第一阶段建立的两个研究核心（行为核心和 组织学和成像核心）。扩大的研究核心服务将包括小鼠基因分型和专家 咨询维持转基因小鼠群体所需的育种策略（行为核心），以及 一项验证COBRE中心研究人员使用的抗体的服务（组织学和成像核心）。与 通过第二阶段资金和机构支持提供的持续投资，我们将在早期 成功，并明确确立了该中心作为疼痛研究的领导者。

Treatment of chronic pain continues to rely on old drugs such as gabapentinoids, reuptake blockers and opioids, all of which have severe side effects that diminish quality of life. Tolerance develops to opioids with chronic use, and an increase in opioid prescriptions has contributed to the growing opioid addiction epidemic. There is an urgent need for finding alternative treatments for treatment of both acute chronic pain. The goal of the COBRE Phase II is to continue the development of a Center for the Study of Pain and Sensory Function that will significantly contribute to the scientific understanding of the neurobiology of acute and chronic pain, facilitating the discovery of novel therapies. Significant progress was made during Phase I: four project leaders were successful in receiving NIH support and three COBRE pilot project grants seeded studies that subsequently received extramural support. Targets for recruitment were exceeded with the addition of both senior and junior faculty members to our Center. Two research cores were established and new lab space was created through renovations. The Center will continue to build on these accomplishments, leveraging COBRE support to garner additional institutional investment in the program. Our research cores will continue to collaborate with those at other regional IDeA program funded institutions, efficiently utilizing our resources as we work towards increased sustainability. Specific Aim 1 will create a critical mass of pain researchers necessary to sustain a vibrant research center and enhance their ability to compete for extramural research support. This Aim will be accomplished by fostering the pain related research programs of four current UNE faculty members who have not received R01 or comparable Research Project Grant support. In addition, funds will be provided for pilot projects to support early stage yet innovative pain-related studies. Finally, we will recruit an additional three investigators whose research programs will complement those of the existing faculty. Specific Aim 2 will expand neuroscience research infrastructure at UNE, providing access to core facilities that allow investigators to carry out cutting edge research on the neurobiological processes involved in the development of chronic pain. This aim will be accomplished through funding key support personnel and the purchase of equipment for the two research cores established during Phase I (the Behavior Core and the Histology and Imaging Core). Expanded research core services will include mouse genotyping and expert consultations for breeding strategies required for maintaining transgenic mouse colonies (Behavior Core), and a service to validate antibodies used by COBRE center researchers (Histology and Imaging Core). With continued investment provided through Phase II funding and institutional support, we will build on our early success and clearly establish the Center as a leader in pain research.