How the trigeminal ganglion's internal clock affects headache pain
Regulation of headache pain responses by the Trigeminal ganglion clock
This project looks at whether the internal clock in the trigeminal ganglion helps explain daily patterns of pain in migraine and cluster headache.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11300226 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying the biological clock inside the trigeminal ganglion, the nerve cluster linked to headache pain. They grow trigeminal tissue in the lab and use a mouse model that mimics headache to track when pain sensitivity rises and falls over the day. The team reads gene activity across the day with RNA sequencing and turns off core clock genes to see which molecules control rhythmic pain responses. The aim is to identify clock-regulated targets that could help time treatments for better pain control.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with migraine or cluster headache, especially those who notice a daily pattern to their attacks, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People without headache disorders or whose headaches show no daily timing are unlikely to see direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable timing of treatments to when they work best, reducing headache severity or frequency.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and some human observations have linked circadian clocks to pain timing, but applying clock-based treatments for headache is still largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yoo, Seung-Hee — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Yoo, Seung-Hee
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.