Thursday, February 19, 2026 2/19/2026

Genetic and Pharmacological Validation of CRMP2 Phosphorylation as a Novel therapeutic Target for Neuropathic Pain

Award Number: R01NS120663
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2025

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Genetic and Pharmacological Validation of CRMP2 Phosphorylation as a Novel therapeutic Target for Neuropathic Pain - SUMMARY (Revisions in blue font) Effective treatment of high-impact pain patients is one of the major stated goals of the National Pain Strategy. Identification of new targets and mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain will be critical in developing new target-specific medications for better neuropathic pain management. We recently discovered that peripheral nerve injury-induced upregulation of an axonal guidance phosphoprotein collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) and the N-type voltage-gated calcium (CaV2.2) as well as the NaV1.7 voltage-gated sodium channel, correlates with the development of neuropathic pain through an unidentified mechanism. In our preliminary studies, we found that interfering with the phosphorylation status of CRMP2 is sufficient to confer protection from chronic pain. Others have found that a CRMP2 knock-in mutant mouse where the phosphorylation site Ser522 was inactivated with alanine (crmp2S522A) had a decreased sensitivity to pain. A mechanistic link between prevention of CRMP2 phosphorylation and effects on dysregulated excitatory synaptic transmission underlying neuropathic pain processing has never been investigated. Whether there is a phosphoregulatory “set-point” permitting CRMP2 to “toggle” between a presumptive non-phosphorylated (non-pain) and phosphorylated (pain) state is not known. We find that the ratio of pCRMP2:CRMP2 varies in human spinal cords. Based on the literature and our preliminary data, we hypothesize that injury induced phosphorylated-CRMP2/CaV2.2 and phosphorylated-CRMP2/NaV1.7 upregulation in the sensory pathway promotes abnormal excitatory synaptic transmission in spinal cord that leads to neuropathic pain states. In Aim 1, we will determine the molecular/cellular mechanisms underlying aberrant excitatory synaptic transmission and neuropathic pain processing in conditions wherein CRMP2 phosphorylation is inhibited. In Aim 2, we will attempt to directly tackle NIH’s Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative to speed scientific solutions to the national opioid public health crisis by: (a) determining the side-effect profile and abuse liability of targeting CRMP2 phosphorylation with a small molecule, and (b) determine if CRMP2 with a small molecule can be opioid sparing or decrease opioid abuse liability. We propose to validate CRMP2 phosphorylation as a novel target in neuropathic pain using innovative tools that include a genetic approach (crmp2S522A) mice as well as a non-opioid pharmacological approach (a novel CRMP2-phsphorylation targeting compound). The expected results of this application are translationally significant in that they will establish CRMP2-phosphorylation as a novel pain therapeutic target. By demonstrating that inhibition of CRMP2 phosphorylation reverses or prevents neuropathic pain, we will promote the discovery and validation of a novel therapeutic target (CRMP2-phosphorylation) to facilitate the development of novel pain therapeutics – thus directly addressing the mandate of RFA-NS-18-043.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = -$190,664 )
2026	2020	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	3	10/1/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	-$190,664
														Subtotal = -$190,664

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2020	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S FL 11	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	2	4/10/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = -$9,758 )
2024	2020	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	002	3	8/30/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$0
2024	2020	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	001	3	7/19/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$858,381
2024	2020	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	2	7/19/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	-$868,139
														Subtotal = -$9,758

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2022	2021	UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA	888 N EUCLID AVE RM 510	TUCSON	AZ	85719	PIMA	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	002	1	8/29/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	-$95,819
2022	2021	UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA	888 N EUCLID AVE RM 510	TUCSON	AZ	85719	PIMA	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	003	1	8/29/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	-$383,750
2022	2020	UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA	888 N EUCLID AVE RM 510	TUCSON	AZ	85719	PIMA	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	5/13/2022	NEW	-$1,664,769
2022	2020	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	004	2	8/29/2022	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$479,569
2022	2020	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	001	2	5/14/2022	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$1,664,769
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $582,686 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA	888 N EUCLID AVE RM 510	TUCSON	AZ	85719	PIMA	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	002	1	4/2/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$383,750
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA	888 N EUCLID AVE RM 510	TUCSON	AZ	85719	PIMA	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	1	1/26/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA	888 N EUCLID AVE RM 510	TUCSON	AZ	85719	PIMA	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	1/14/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$198,936
														Subtotal = $582,686

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $2,060,449 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA	888 N EUCLID AVE RM 510	TUCSON	AZ	85719	PIMA	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	7/29/2020	NEW	$2,060,449
														Subtotal = $2,060,449

Grand Total All Awards = $2,442,713

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Genetic and Pharmacological Validation of CRMP2 Phosphorylation as a Novel therapeutic Target for Neuropathic Pain

Award Number: R01NS120663

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2025

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