How concussion-related brain circuits cause long-lasting pain
The Role of Pain-Facilitating Circuits in Chronic Pain after Traumatic Brain Injury
This project looks at how concussion changes brain circuits that can make headaches and body pain persist, to help people with ongoing pain after mild TBI.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11204588 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how a concussion can disrupt your brain's natural pain-control circuits, focusing on a brainstem region called the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) and its ON-cells that can amplify pain. Using laboratory models and neurophysiology techniques, they will examine how these pain-promoting cells become sensitized after mild TBI and how that changes pain signals from the body. The team aims to map the cellular and circuit-level changes that make headaches and widespread pain last longer and feel worse after concussion. This is primarily lab-based work at the VA Palo Alto, designed to lay the groundwork for future patient-focused tests and treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) who have persistent headaches or generalized chronic pain would be the most relevant patients for future clinical work based on this research.
Not a fit: People whose pain is clearly caused by non-TBI conditions, short-term acute injuries, or purely peripheral nerve problems are less likely to benefit from brain-circuit–focused approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets in brain pain circuits for treatments that reduce chronic headaches and body pain after concussion.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and some clinical studies have linked RVM ON-cell sensitization to other chronic pain conditions, but applying that mechanism specifically to concussion-related chronic pain is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Palo Alto, United States
- Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys — Palo Alto, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Qiliang — Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys
- Study coordinator: Chen, Qiliang
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 below.