How testosterone affects chronic jaw and facial pain
The Role of Testosterone on Mediating Sex and Gender Influences on Chronic Orofacial Pain Conditions
This project looks at whether testosterone changes brain pain-control systems and can help people with chronic jaw and facial pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11373277 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use animal models and brain-connectivity measures to study how testosterone and androgen receptors change endogenous pain inhibition that may underlie temporomandibular and other chronic orofacial pain conditions. The team compares sex differences in conditioned pain modulation–like processes and manipulates testosterone levels and androgen signaling to see how that alters descending pain control circuits such as the rACC–PAG pathway. Findings will be used to link basic mechanisms to clinical implications for both cisgender and transgender people who have jaw or facial pain or who are undergoing hormone treatments. The work aims to reveal targets for hormone-informed or brain-directed pain management strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with chronic orofacial pain such as temporomandibular disorders, especially those with ongoing jaw or facial pain or those considering or receiving hormone therapy, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People with unrelated chronic pain conditions outside the head/face region or with only short-term acute jaw pain may not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to hormone-informed approaches or new brain-targeted therapies to improve natural pain inhibition and reduce chronic jaw and facial pain.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies have shown that testosterone can strengthen descending pain inhibition and link rACC–PAG connectivity to better pain control in animals, but human evidence for testosterone-based pain treatments is limited.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ro, Jin Y — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Ro, Jin Y
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.