Improving Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Pain Relief
CRCNS: Computational Model of Chronic Pain Analgesia via Closed-Loop Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
This work aims to create a smart system that can automatically adjust nerve stimulation to better relieve chronic pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124680 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Chronic pain, including conditions like allodynia and hyperalgesia, affects many people and is a major health challenge. Current nerve stimulation treatments for pain often require manual adjustments and don't always work well for everyone. This project is developing a new 'closed-loop' system that uses a computational model to continuously adapt the nerve stimulation based on a person's pain signals. The goal is to provide more effective pain relief without suppressing important acute pain signals that warn the body of harm.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is foundational for individuals experiencing chronic pain, particularly those who might benefit from or are currently using nerve stimulation therapies.
Not a fit: Patients whose pain is not related to nerve hypersensitivity or those for whom nerve stimulation is not a suitable treatment may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to more effective and personalized nerve stimulation treatments for chronic pain, potentially reducing reliance on opioids.
How similar studies have performed: While neuromodulation has shown promise, current closed-loop approaches for pain are often model-free, making this computational modeling approach novel.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sarma, Sridevi V. — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Sarma, Sridevi V.
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.