Investigating how stress affects the transition from acute to chronic muscle pain
Official title: Project 4 - Queme
Funded at University of New England · NIH-11005044 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New England NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Biddeford, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $228,025 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM152330-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11005044 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who experience acute muscle pain and have high levels of stress or anxiety.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chronic pain conditions unrelated to stress or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of New England
Biddeford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Queme Cobar, Luis Fernando — University of New England
- Study coordinator: Queme Cobar, Luis Fernando
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.