Mapping the nerves of the knee and jaw joint
Innervation of the knee and TMJ
Researchers are mapping the nerve types that cause long-term knee or jaw (TMJ) pain to help guide better, more targeted treatments for people with chronic joint pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11167002 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project maps which nerve cells go to different parts of the knee and the temporomandibular (jaw) joint and how those nerves change with age and disease. The team uses nerve tracing dyes, 3-dimensional imaging, electrical testing, and single-cell gene sequencing to match nerve function with gene activity. They will design viral (AAV) tools to label specific nerve types so those cells can be identified and targeted. The work brings together lab experiments and clinical expertise to make findings more useful for people living with chronic joint pain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with ongoing knee pain (for example from osteoarthritis or after arthroplasty) or chronic TMJ pain would be the most likely candidates for related trials or to provide samples.
Not a fit: People without joint-related pain or whose pain arises from widespread central pain disorders or non-neural causes are less likely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal precise nerve targets for new therapies that reduce chronic knee or TMJ pain.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have mapped joint nerves and used AAV tools, but this integrated approach pairing 3D mapping, electrophysiology, and single-cell RNA sequencing across knee and TMJ is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Allen, Kyle D — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Allen, Kyle D
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.