New ways to treat chronic pain after mild brain injuries
Official title: Novel treatments of chronic pain due to repetitive mild traumatic brain injury
Funded at Rlr VA Medical Center · NIH-11418233 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team is studying why some people develop long-lasting pain after a mild head injury and how brain inflammation contributes to it.
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 start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX004297-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418233 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with a history of mild traumatic brain injury and chronic pain who might benefit from therapies addressing neuroinflammation.
✕Less likely to help
This research uses animal models, so it does not directly test therapies in humans at this stage, and may not benefit patients seeking immediate clinical options.
What this research studies
This project uses a special mouse model that glows when caspase-1 is active to watch brain inflammation in real time after a mild concussion. Researchers will compare younger and older mice, as well as male and female mice, to understand how inflammation relates to chronic pain over time. The goal is to uncover how a specific inflammatory pathway in the brain drives ongoing pain so future treatments can target it. People with a history of mild head injuries who experience persistent pain may benefit from insights that guide new therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to treatments that reduce chronic pain after mild head injuries by targeting brain inflammation.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked neuroinflammation to chronic pain after brain injury, with some positive animal model findings suggesting that targeting inflammation can alter pain, though human results are still developing.
Where this research is happening
-
Rlr VA Medical Center
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: White, Fletcher a — Rlr VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: White, Fletcher a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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New approaches for long-term pain after repeated mild head injuries
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.
-
New treatments for chronic pain from mild brain injuries
This study is looking at how mild concussions, which many older veterans experience, can lead to long-lasting pain and inflammation in the brain, and it hopes to find new ways to help those dealing with chronic pain from these injuries.
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Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A High-Tech Look Inside the Brain with Diffusion MRI
Researchers are using advanced brain imaging to find biological clues in people who have mild traumatic brain injuries.
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How neuromodulation may help headaches after a mild brain injury
A small study tests whether stimulating the brain with a noninvasive technique can lessen persistent headaches in people who recently had a concussion.
-
Retraining brain pathways to boost thinking after a mild head injury
A clinical trial tests a brain-training program to improve thinking and memory in people who have had a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
-
Neurobehavioral effects of childhood brain injuries and addiction risk in twins
This grant studies how mild traumatic brain injury in childhood might influence behavior and the chance of developing addictive behaviors later in life, using twins to understand what’s due to injury versus other factors.
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.