Motor cortex tricks to ease chronic pain
Official title: Dissecting motor cortex modulation of nociception during chronic pain
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11621209 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in rodents and people tests whether non-invasive brain stimulation of the motor cortex can reduce chronic pain and how best to target it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $221,478 |
| NIH project number | 7R00DE031802-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11621209 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with chronic pain who may benefit from non-invasive motor cortex stimulation and who could participate in future clinical translation studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with pain conditions unlikely to respond to motor cortex stimulation or those unable to undergo non-invasive brain stimulation may receive little or no benefit.
What this research studies
This grant explores how stimulating the motor cortex non-invasively might lessen chronic pain by using somatotopic targeting and examining the body’s opioid system. Researchers will use a rodent model of trigeminal neuropathic pain to test matched stimulation and compare it with off-target stimulation, while also identifying which opioid receptors are involved. The goal is to understand the mechanisms and define practical stimulation features that could improve pain relief for patients. The work combines behavioral tests with modern neuroscience methods to translate findings toward better clinical use of motor cortex stimulation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve non-drug pain relief options and reduce reliance on opioids for chronic pain.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown pain reduction with motor cortex stimulation in humans and animals, supporting potential benefit but mechanisms and optimal targets remain to be defined.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mercer Lindsay, Nicole — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Mercer Lindsay, Nicole
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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.