Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a frequent and clinically relevant side effect of cancer treatment. It can cause pain and sensory disturbances, substantially reduce quality of life and, in some cases, require a reduction in chemotherapy dose. It remains insufficiently understood which mechanisms amplify or chronify CIPN-related pain and how these mechanisms can inform individual risk profiles and targeted therapeutic approaches.

This project investigates central processes involved in the development of CIPN. It focuses on cortical networks of pain and emotion processing that shape individual pain trajectories. By linking preclinical and clinical data, the project aims to clarify which networks are altered in CIPN and which of these alterations contribute to pain perception. In addition, it examines how chronic stress influences CIPN and whether cortical mechanisms may provide targets for prevention and therapy.

The aim is to identify risk factors and functionally relevant mechanisms of CIPN, to provide a basis for personalized diagnosis, prevention and treatment, and thereby to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.