Music4Pain: How music can help ease pain
Music4Pain Network: A research network to advance the study of mechanisms underlying the effects of music and music-based interventions on pain.
This network brings experts together to learn how music and music-based therapies can reduce pain for people, including those with Alzheimer's and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11175432 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, Music4Pain is a national team of scientists, music therapists, and clinicians working together to understand why music can relieve pain and who benefits most. They will create clear definitions and a shared language for music-based therapies, study the brain and body signals linked to pain relief, and look for biomarkers and personal factors that predict who responds best. The network will develop a formal research plan and support coordinated studies at collaborating sites so future clinics can offer better, evidence-based music care. Over time this should help doctors and therapists pick the right kinds of music approaches for different types of pain and patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with ongoing acute or chronic pain—including individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias—who are open to trying or participating in research on music-based therapies.
Not a fit: People who cannot engage with music-based activities (for example, severe hearing loss or very advanced cognitive impairment that prevents any meaningful interaction) may not benefit from these interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make music-based treatments more reliable and help match the right music approach to the right patient to reduce pain.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller clinical trials and music-therapy programs have shown that music can reduce pain and improve mood, but the biological and personal reasons for who benefits are still not well understood.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Drexel University — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bradt, Joke — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Bradt, Joke
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.