Exploring how colored light can reduce chronic pain
Official title: Neural Mechanisms of Colored Light Driven Analgeisa
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11032610 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how colored light therapy might help people with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain by exploring how light affects the brain's pain pathways.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $4,572,599 |
| NIH project number | 1RM1NS140200-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11032610 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain, including conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute pain conditions or those who do not respond to light therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the potential of light therapy, specifically colored light, as a non-addictive treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain (cMSP) conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain. By delivering light to the retina, the study aims to understand the neural mechanisms that enable this therapy to alleviate pain. Researchers will explore how specific visual pathways and color-sensitive cells in the retina interact with pain pathways in the brain. The goal is to unlock the therapeutic potential of light by identifying the specific neural circuits involved in pain modulation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, non-pharmacologic treatment option for patients suffering from chronic pain, reducing reliance on opioids.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results for light therapy in pain management, suggesting that this approach may be effective, although the specific mechanisms remain largely unexplored.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mauck, Matthew Christopher — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Mauck, Matthew Christopher
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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.