Female-specific trigeminal dynorphin role in TMD and migraine overlap
Official title: Female-specific role of trigeminal dynorphin in temporomandibular disorder and its comorbidity
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-11380671 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies why women with jaw pain (TMD) often have migraines and looks for female-focused targets to treat both conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $359,813 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE032061-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380671 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women with myogenic TMD and migraine, especially those who might benefit from future targeted therapies addressing dynorphin or bradykinin pathways.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without TMD or migraine, or those not suitable for future dynorphin/bradykinin-based therapies, may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers use an animal model that combines a myogenic jaw pain procedure with a migraine-like trigger to study how sex affects pain. They analyze gene expression to identify dynorphin as a potential female-specific target and test how blocking this molecule in the spinal brain region affects overlapping pain. The work also examines whether blocking the bradykinin receptor can reduce the combined pain in females. The goal is to point toward new therapies that specifically help women who experience both TMD and migraine pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to targeted therapies that reduce pain for women with TMD and migraine overlap.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work showed female-specific pain mechanisms and responses to bradykinin pathway modulation in this overlapping condition.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tao, Feng — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Tao, Feng
Related research
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Understanding jaw pain and migraine in women
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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.