Green light for easing pain after mild traumatic brain injury
Official title: Identifying the Role of the Periaqueductal Gray in Mediating Traumatic Brain Injury Induced Thermal and Mechanical Hypersensitivity Reduction After Green Light Exposure
Funded at Southern Arizona VA Health Care System · NIH-11213953 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether green light exposure can reduce sensitivity to heat and touch in people with mild traumatic brain injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Southern Arizona VA Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005965-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11213953 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people with a history of mild traumatic brain injury who experience ongoing sensitivity to heat or touch, including veterans or active-duty service members.
✕Less likely to help
People with moderate or severe TBI, chronic pain from unrelated causes, or conditions that make light exposure unsafe (for example, photosensitivity) may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you have a mild TBI, this research looks at whether green light exposure can ease sensitivity to heat and touch by acting on a deep brain area called the periaqueductal gray. The team uses lab models of mTBI and measures pain-related behaviors, inflammatory markers such as TNF-α and IL-6, and activation of microglia and astrocytes. They will apply controlled green light and compare results to untreated controls to see if pain and inflammation decrease. Ultimately they want to map the brain circuits behind any pain relief so the approach could guide non-drug treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to a non-opioid approach to reduce pain after mild TBI and lower reliance on pain medications.
How similar studies have gone: Early animal studies and a few small human reports suggest green light can reduce pain, but applying it to mTBI and defining the exact brain mechanisms is still novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Southern Arizona VA Health Care System
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ibrahim, Mohab M — Southern Arizona VA Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Ibrahim, Mohab M
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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.