Pain Pediatric & Elderly AXA Research Lab (PEARL)

Cutaneous neuropathic pain is a highly debilitating chronic condition, characterized by persistent sensations of burning, tingling, or hypersensitivity. It disproportionately affects the most vulnerable patients and severely impacts quality of life, making even the simplest daily activities—such as the touch of clothing—unbearable. Current treatment options deliver limited results and are often poorly tolerated, leaving many patients without adequate solutions. This pressing medical and societal challenge calls for an innovative and ambitious response.

From 2025 to 2027, under the leadership of Professor Céline Gréco, this research project supported by the AXA Research Fund will explore a novel therapeutic strategy that combines the repurposing of existing molecules with the use of nanoparticles as advanced delivery vectors. This cutting-edge technology will enable treatments to be delivered directly to the cutaneous nerve cells involved in pain, maximizing efficacy while minimizing side effects. By bringing together precision medicine and innovative drug delivery systems, this approach opens the way to a new generation of targeted therapies for neuropathic pain.

The ultimate goal is to develop more effective, better-tolerated, and clinically impactful solutions capable of transforming the long-term management of this condition. By supporting this initiative, the AXA Research Fund reaffirms its commitment to advancing breakthrough science that improves health and quality of life, while contributing to the emergence of new medical specialties with high societal benefit.