New approaches for long-term pain after repeated mild head injuries
Novel treatments of chronic pain due to repetitive mild traumatic brain injury
The project looks at whether blocking a brain inflammation pathway can reduce long-term pain after repeated mild head injuries in people of different ages and sexes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rlr VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11220687 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
To understand why some people develop lasting pain after repeated mild head injuries, researchers will use specially engineered mice that light up when a key inflammation enzyme called caspase-1 turns on. They will give controlled mild head impacts to younger and older male and female mice, take live images over time, and map where and when inflammation appears in the brain. By tracking the NLRP3 inflammasome and downstream signals like IL-1β, the team aims to pinpoint how neuroinflammation drives chronic pain and identify targets for new treatments. Findings could guide therapies that block caspase-1 or inflammasome signaling to reduce pain after concussion.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with chronic or widespread pain that began after one or more mild concussions or repetitive head impacts — including older adults and Veterans with fall-related head injuries — would be the ideal candidates for future therapies informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose pain is unrelated to head injury, caused by clear structural damage, or driven mainly by non-inflammatory causes are less likely to benefit from therapies based on this inflammasome pathway.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new inflammation-targeting treatments that reduce or prevent chronic widespread pain after repeated mild head injuries.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have linked NLRP3/caspase-1 and IL-1β to pain and neuroinflammation with promising preclinical results, but clinical therapies targeting these pathways remain largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Indianapolis, United States
- Rlr VA Medical Center — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: White, Fletcher a — Rlr VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: White, Fletcher a
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.