Photobiomodulation for jaw pain from TMD
Official title: Photobiomodulation for the management of Temporomandibular disorder pain
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11635590 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinician-scientist at the University of Florida is testing a light-based therapy to help adults with temporomandibular disorder pain feel better and jaw function improve.
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 start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $55,217 |
| NIH project number | 3UH3DE030433-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11635590 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with painful TMD who are experiencing jaw pain and functional limitations.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without TMD-related pain or those outside the age range may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports a career development path focused on TMD pain and how light-based therapy might help. The project will explore voice and speech-related biomarkers alongside patient-reported pain and disability to understand how VOCaL features relate to TMD symptoms. The approach combines clinical assessments, targeted training, and data analysis to build expertise in pain research and translational potential for patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with TMD could have a new non-drug option to reduce jaw pain and improve function.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests VOCaL biomarkers may reflect pain states, but this specific integration with TMD care is exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ribeiro-Dasilva, Margarete C — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Ribeiro-Dasilva, Margarete C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeted light therapy for jaw pain (TMD)
This project uses targeted light therapy to try to reduce jaw pain in adults with temporomandibular disorder.
-
Female-specific trigeminal dynorphin role in TMD and migraine overlap
This grant studies why women with jaw pain (TMD) often have migraines and looks for female-focused targets to treat both conditions.
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Photobiomodulation for jaw pain from TMD
A study tests a light-based therapy to help adults with temporomandibular disorder reduce jaw pain without drugs.
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Light Therapy for Jaw Pain
This project is exploring if a special type of light therapy, called photobiomodulation, can help adults who experience chronic pain from temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
-
Understanding jaw pain and migraine in women
This project looks for new ways to treat jaw pain (TMD) and migraine headaches, especially in women.
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Investigating the role of a specific protein in pain related to jaw disorders and migraines in women
This study is looking at how jaw pain from temporomandibular disorders (TMD) might be linked to migraine headaches in women, and it hopes to find new ways to help relieve that pain by exploring a specific protein involved in both conditions.
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.