Brain immune cells and gut imbalance in pelvic pain
TLR Transduction of Dysbiotic Pelvic Pain
This project looks at whether brain immune cells called microglia respond to changes in gut bacteria through a sensor called TLR4 and whether that pathway helps cause chronic pelvic pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11162291 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have chronic pelvic pain, this project will study how changes in gut bacteria might send signals to immune cells in the brain (microglia) that influence pain. Researchers will use two mouse models that mirror human pelvic pain—one driven by infection and one reflecting genetic susceptibility—to represent different possible causes. They will measure pain-like behaviors and cognitive changes, profile microglial cell states, and test whether the receptor TLR4 is required for microglial responses. The team will also link findings from patient gut microbiome data to laboratory models to understand how microbiota changes affect microglia and pain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with chronic pelvic or urologic pelvic pain—particularly those with signs of gut microbiome changes—would be the eventual target population for therapies informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose pelvic pain is clearly caused by purely structural or non-immune factors may not see direct benefits from this line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new targets such as TLR4 or microglial pathways for treatments that reduce chronic pelvic pain.
How similar studies have performed: Similar approaches linking microglia and the microbiome have shown promising results in animal pain models, but clinical benefits for people have not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Klumpp, David J — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Klumpp, David J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.