Finding biological signatures that predict when acute pain becomes chronic

PSP Omics Center of Acute to Chronic Pain Signatures

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · BATTELLE PACIFIC NORTHWEST LABORATORIES · NIH-11160479

This project uses advanced lab tests to find biological markers that could tell whether someone's recent acute pain will turn into long-lasting chronic pain.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorBATTELLE PACIFIC NORTHWEST LABORATORIES (nih funded)
Locations1 site (RICHLAND, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11160479 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If I join, researchers will collect biological samples tied to acute pain events and run high-throughput 'omics' tests to measure proteins, lipids, metabolites, and extracellular RNAs. They will combine results across many people to look for multi-molecule patterns linked with the shift from acute to chronic pain. Labs at Battelle PNNL and partner sites (Stanford and Pittsburgh) will run the assays and analyze the data with advanced analytical tools. The work aims to build molecular signatures that could be used in future tests or treatments to prevent chronic pain.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who recently experienced an acute painful event (for example after an injury or surgery) and are willing to provide samples and clinical information.

Not a fit: People who already have long-standing chronic pain or those without a recent acute pain event are less likely to gain direct benefit from this work in the short term.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify people at high risk of developing chronic pain so they can get earlier or different treatments to prevent long-term pain.

How similar studies have performed: Preliminary studies have suggested some molecular signals may be linked to pain outcomes, but creating a reliable multi-molecule predictor for acute-to-chronic pain conversion is still largely new and unproven.

Where this research is happening

RICHLAND, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.