Improving Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Pain Relief
Official title: CRCNS: Computational Model of Chronic Pain Analgesia via Closed-Loop Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11124680 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $335,514 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AT011844-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124680 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is foundational for individuals experiencing chronic pain, particularly those who might benefit from or are currently using nerve stimulation therapies.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sarma, Sridevi V. — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Sarma, Sridevi V.
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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.