Brain immune cells and gut imbalance in pelvic pain
Official title: TLR Transduction of Dysbiotic Pelvic Pain
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11162291 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | August 21, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $633,699 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134817-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11162291 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose pelvic pain is clearly caused by purely structural or non-immune factors may not see direct benefits from this line of research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Klumpp, David J — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Klumpp, David J
Related research
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A short, patient-friendly study will look at whether allergy-related antibodies can help predict and prevent flare-ups in people with urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
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A new oral medicine combining cromolyn sodium and cetirizine is being developed to help adults with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain by targeting immune and nerve-related pathways.
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Sacral nerve stimulation for chronic pelvic pain
A study to see if a minimally invasive nerve-stimulation therapy can help reduce chronic pelvic pain and improve quality of life in adult women.
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.