Predictors of widespread pain after cardiac surgery
Official title: Predictors of Nociplastic Pain after Cardiac Surgery Requiring Critical Care
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11452390 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinician-scientist at UNC Chapel Hill is studying why some patients develop widespread, nociplastic-like pain after heart surgery and ICU stay, to improve prevention and care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 8, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $234,466 |
| NIH project number | 1K08NS146262-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11452390 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults undergoing cardiac surgery with ICU stay, who are willing to participate in long-term follow-up and assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing nociplastic-like symptoms or who do not participate in follow-up assessments may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on understanding how the body’s pain processing becomes altered after cardiac surgery and ICU care. It looks at central nervous system–driven pain and autonomic markers, such as heart rate variability, to find patterns that predict chronic pain after surgery. The study would involve following patients through the perioperative period and collecting information on pain scores, mood, memory, and autonomic function to identify who is at risk and why. The goal is to inform better pain management strategies that reduce chronic pain and opioid use after cardiac procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better identification of patients at risk for chronic pain and guide personalized strategies to prevent it.
How similar studies have gone: Prior data suggest a subset of patients develop chronic pain after surgery, but this study aims to link autonomic and CNS factors to these outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guichard, Lauriane — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Guichard, Lauriane
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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.