Researchers at New York University College of Dentistry’s Pain Research Center have secured a 5-year National Institutes of Health grant to delve into the signaling mechanisms behind oral cancer pain. Part of the NIH’s HEAL Initiative, aimed at addressing the opioid crisis, the funding will fuel investigations into G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) within endosomes, key organelles in cells. These receptors play pivotal roles in physiological and pathological processes, including cancer pain. The team aims to decipher how these receptors contribute to pain through ion channel expression and nociceptor sensitization. Through collaborative efforts, ranging from patient pain assessments to nanoparticle drug delivery systems, the study aims to unravel the intricate mechanisms underpinning oral cancer pain, offering potential avenues for targeted pain management therapies. Click here to read more.
Kristen Pratt Machado is executive editor for Dimensions of Dental Hygiene and Decisions in Dentistry and director of publishing operations for Belmont Business Media. She has been with the company since its inception in 2001.