Mapping Spinal Cord Activity for Nerve Pain
Dermatomal Mapping with Spinal Cord Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
This project aims to create better maps of how our spinal cord processes sensation to help people with nerve pain like radiculopathy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11092306 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Radiculopathy, a common spinal condition, causes nerve pain, weakness, and numbness due to compressed spinal nerves. Doctors currently use 'dermatomal maps' to understand where nerve damage might be, but these maps have limitations and aren't always precise. This project uses a special type of MRI, called spinal cord fMRI, to get a clearer picture of how the spinal cord responds to sensations. By improving these imaging methods and creating more accurate maps, we hope to better understand nerve injuries and improve diagnosis for conditions like cervical radiculopathy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients experiencing nerve pain, weakness, or numbness due to spinal nerve compression, particularly those with cervical radiculopathy, might be ideal candidates for future related studies.
Not a fit: Patients whose pain is not related to spinal nerve compression or who do not have a neurological injury may not directly benefit from this specific mapping technique.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more accurate diagnoses and better-targeted treatments for patients experiencing nerve pain from spinal conditions.
How similar studies have performed: While spinal cord fMRI is an advanced technique, this project aims to significantly enhance existing methods and validate dermatomal maps, building upon prior foundational work in neuroimaging.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weber, Kenneth Arnold — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Weber, Kenneth Arnold
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.