Brain pain map guides smarter neuromodulation for chronic pain
Official title: Optimized targeting of the brain pain matrix with neuromodulation
Funded at Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center · NIH-11298287 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in veterans aims to map where pain relief comes from in the brain during neuromodulation to improve how spinal cord and dorsal root stimulation work for chronic back and leg pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 1I01RD001386-01A2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11298287 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans and others with chronic neuropathic pain who are candidates for spinal cord or dorsal root ganglion stimulation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with pain conditions not treated by neuromodulation or without ongoing neuromodulation therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use brain imaging (fMRI) and behavioral tests in a preclinical pain model to see which brain areas relate to pain relief when neuromodulation is used. By identifying these brain sites, they hope to develop biomarkers that guide patient selection, stimulation site, and therapy timing to achieve better, more consistent relief. The work connects brain activity with how patients feel pain, with the goal of optimizing treatment parameters for chronic pain. This is a translational effort focused on improving a therapy already used in veterans. The study complements existing clinical approaches by targeting the brain mechanisms underlying neuromodulation outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to more reliable pain relief for veterans and other patients receiving neuromodulation therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior neuromodulation studies show variable relief; this project advances a brain-based biomarker approach which is still exploratory but grounded in established imaging findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pawela, Christopher Paul — Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Pawela, Christopher Paul
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.