Scripps Research assistant professor awarded NIH HEAL Initiative grant

LA JOLLA, CA—The National Institutes for Health’s (NIH) HEAL Initiative has awarded Alejandra Mendoza, PhD, assistant professor of Immunology and Microbiology, more than $1.6 million as part of a DP2 grant designed to support early-stage investigators with highly innovative and impactful research.

The NIH’s HEAL Initiative, Helping to End Addiction Long-term, is aimed at supporting preclinical development of safe, effective and non-addictive small molecule and biological therapeutics to treat pain—with the goal of accelerating promising early therapeutic molecules and preparing them for Early Phase Pain Investigation Clinical Network or other phase II clinical studies.

Mendoza was awarded the grant for research that has the potential to significantly advance our understanding and treatment of pain to help end addiction. Her research is focused on the molecular underpinnings that drive neuro-immune interactions that promote immune homeostasis in tissues—balancing responsiveness against pathogenic agents versus tolerance to benign stimuli—as when imbalances exist, maladaptive responses like pain and inflammation can occur.

A particular focus on Mendoza’s research centers around bidirectional crosstalk between sensory neurons and immune cells, and how these interactions shape tissue function, immunity, and sensory perception. Her work seeks to bridge the fields of immunology and peripheral neuroscience to advance our understanding of the underlying causes of chronic pain and inflammation.

The grant, which includes a total funding of $1,656,000, runs through August 2027 and is funded through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.