How the brain senses and processes chronic pain in children and teens
Supraspinal Processing of Sensory Aspects of Pain
Using brain scans, pain sensitivity tests, and questionnaires to understand chronic pain in children and adolescents with conditions like migraine, complex regional pain syndrome, abdominal pain, and musculoskeletal pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11175515 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have MRI brain scans, quantitative sensory testing, and psychological questionnaires to show how your brain responds to pain. The team will study children and teens with migraine, complex regional pain syndrome, functional abdominal pain, and musculoskeletal pain and compare brain patterns across these conditions. Participants will be followed for one year to see which brain signals predict recovery or the spread of pain. Combining imaging, sensory testing, and mood measures aims to find markers that could guide better care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and adolescents with ongoing chronic migraine, complex regional pain syndrome, functional abdominal pain, or musculoskeletal pain who can undergo MRI scans and return for follow-up visits over a year.
Not a fit: People who cannot have MRI scans (for example because of certain implants), who cannot complete study procedures, or who have acute medical issues would likely be ineligible and not benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors identify brain patterns tied to different pediatric chronic pain types and use that information to guide more effective treatments or predict recovery.
How similar studies have performed: Prior imaging and sensory testing studies have found brain differences in chronic pain, but longitudinal multimodal work in pediatric patients is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Coghill, Robert C — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Coghill, Robert C
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.