How vagus nerve signals may quiet jaw and facial pain
Functional peripheral and central vagal neural circuits of interoception inhibiting pain
This project is testing whether signals carried by the vagus nerve can reduce chronic jaw and facial pain by changing how the body senses internal signals, potentially helping people with temporomandibular disorders and related chronic pain conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11452334 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use a mouse model that mimics jaw inflammation seen in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) to map the vagus nerve circuits from the body to the spinal cord and brain. They will apply targeted vagus nerve stimulation, record nerve and brain activity, and observe pain-related behaviors to link specific circuits to pain relief. The team combines anatomy, nerve recordings, and manipulations to find which peripheral and central pathways suppress pain. Findings are intended to point to more precise targets for future vagus-based treatments for chronic facial and widespread pain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) or chronic jaw and facial pain, and people with related chronic pain conditions like migraine or fibromyalgia, are most likely to benefit from the advances guided by this work.
Not a fit: People with acute injury-related pain or pain driven purely by structural issues unrelated to vagal/interoceptive pathways may not see benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better-targeted vagus nerve therapies that relieve chronic jaw, facial, and related pain conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Vagus nerve stimulation is already FDA-approved for epilepsy and depression and has shown promise in small studies for chronic pain, but the specific peripheral and central circuits targeted here are still not well tested.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Yu Shin — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Kim, Yu Shin
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.