Investigating how stress affects the transition from acute to chronic muscle pain

Project 4 - Queme

NIH-funded research University of New England · NIH-11005044

This study is looking at how stress might turn short-term muscle pain into long-lasting pain, using a special mouse model to see how stress affects pain signals, which could help us understand how managing stress might help people with chronic muscle pain.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of New England NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Biddeford, United States)
Project IDNIH-11005044 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research explores the relationship between stress and the development of chronic muscle pain, particularly how stress may influence the transition from acute pain to chronic pain. The study will utilize a novel mouse model that simulates stress without introducing physical injury, allowing researchers to observe the effects of stress on pain perception. By examining the activation of satellite glial cells in response to stress and injury, the research aims to uncover mechanisms that could lead to prolonged muscle pain. The findings could provide insights into how stress management might play a role in pain treatment.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who experience acute muscle pain and have high levels of stress or anxiety.

Not a fit: Patients with chronic pain conditions unrelated to stress or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or managing chronic pain in patients experiencing high levels of stress.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown a connection between stress and chronic pain, but this specific approach using a novel stress model is relatively untested.

Where this research is happening

Biddeford, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.