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Deciphering Macrophage Phenotype and Function in Disc Herniation and associated Back/leg Pain

Award Number: R01AR078888
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS & MUSCULOSKELETAL & SKIN DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2028

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Deciphering Macrophage Phenotype and Function in Disc Herniation and associated Back/leg Pain - Project Summary Intervertebral disc herniation is a major cause of back/leg pain, which affects 80% of people with an estimated annual cost of $100 billion in the U.S. alone. Treatment options for disc herniation and its associated pain are very limited, largely due to insufficient understanding of pathological processes. Current research indicates that inflammation is a key contributor to back/leg pain after disc herniation in both acute and chronic phases. Others and we have found that macrophages are the predominant infiltrated cells at disc hernia sites. Macrophages may play distinct roles in various phases of disc herniation with tissue- and disease stage-specific phenotypes due to their remarkable plasticity and sensitivity in response to microenvironment cues. Our preliminary data revealed a mixed population of macrophages infiltrated at disc hernia sites and transiently depletion of macrophages reduced local inflammation. However, our knowledge of dynamic phenotypes and functions of infiltrated macrophages in disc herniation remains scarce. Our central hypothesis is that specific subpopulations of macrophages contribute to the progression of disc herniation at different stages and that modulation of macrophages will alleviate inflammation-induced pain and restore disc homeostasis. Our objective of this R01 is to better characterizing macrophage phenotypes, functions, and macrophage-disc crosstalk in disc herniation and pain at a mechanistic level, which facilitates our long-term goal to develop disease-modifying therapies for disc herniation and associated back/leg pain. Successful completion of this project will significantly advance our understanding of macrophage functions in disc herniation and lay a solid foundation for future therapeutic development, such as a selectively macrophage-targeted immunomodulation strategy.


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: 2025 ( Subtotal = $463,214 )
2025	2025	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 EMMET ST N	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	001	3	6/9/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$33,427
2025	2025	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 EMMET ST N	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	3	12/24/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$429,787
														Subtotal = $463,214

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2023	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 EMMET ST N	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	2	2/16/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $471,460 )
2023	2023	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 N EMMET ST	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	2	3/8/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$471,460
														Subtotal = $471,460

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $480,903 )
2022	2022	RECTOR & VISITORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	1001 N EMMET ST	CHARLOTTESVILLE	VA	22903	CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	1	3/30/2022	NEW	$480,903
														Subtotal = $480,903

Grand Total All Awards = $1,415,577

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Deciphering Macrophage Phenotype and Function in Disc Herniation and associated Back/leg Pain

Award Number: R01AR078888

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS & MUSCULOSKELETAL & SKIN DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2028

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