Sleep and daily rhythms as factors in chronic pain spread
Official title: Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances as risk and progression factors for multiple chronic pain conditions
Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-11332940 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how sleep and circadian rhythm problems may influence the development and worsening of multiple chronic pain conditions in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $594,005 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS129887-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332940 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with chronic low back pain, with or without other COPCs, who can complete sleep and pain assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without chronic pain or those unable to participate in follow-up assessments may not benefit.
What this research studies
The project aims to enroll up to 300 adults with chronic low back pain to understand how sleep issues and circadian rhythm disturbances might drive the progression to additional pain conditions. Researchers plan to collect sleep data, pain measures, and psychological distress to identify common, modifiable factors across pain syndromes. By focusing on mechanisms rather than single conditions, the study hopes to inform new strategies to prevent and treat multiple overlapping pains.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to better sleep-focused strategies to prevent or slow the spread of chronic pain conditions and improve quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests sleep disturbances are linked with higher pain and disability, but research on progression to multiple COPCs is limited and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mun, Chung Jung — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Mun, Chung Jung
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Investigating how sleep and circadian rhythms affect chronic pain conditions
This study is looking at how sleep problems affect people with chronic pain, especially those with low back pain, to find ways to improve treatment and prevention for everyone dealing with similar issues.
-
Motor cortex tricks to ease chronic pain
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Human pain center study to map normal and migraine-trigeminal neurons
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Understanding human pain neurons to improve migraine care
Researchers are studying human pain-sensing neurons to uncover what makes migraine start and persist, with the goal of better treatments for people who experience migraines.
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Whole Person Pain Algorithm to personalize chronic pain care
A new, evidence-based model helps explain why chronic low back pain affects people differently and could guide personalized diagnosis and treatment.
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Understanding how to use pharmacogenomic testing to guide chronic pain care
This grant looks at how doctors who treat long‑term pain decide when and how to use genetic testing to tailor pain medicines for safer and more effective care.
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.