Understanding brain and autonomic changes in painful jaw disorders
Official title: Toward CNS Correlates of Autonomic Dysfunction in Painful TMD
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11439870 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how brainstem activity and fluid flow in the brain relate to autonomic problems in people with painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD) to help tailor better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $444,125 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DE036332-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11439870 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with painful temporomandibular disorders and pain-free controls.
✕Less likely to help
People without TMD or without autonomic symptoms may not directly benefit from these measurements.
What this research studies
People with chronic TMD often endure pain with limited treatment options. The project will look at brain signals and brain fluid movement, along with measurements of autonomic function like heart rate variability, in adults with TMD compared with those without pain. By linking brain activity, glymphatic flow, and autonomic symptoms, researchers hope to identify patterns that explain why some patients respond differently to treatments. This could pave the way for more personalized approaches to managing TMD pain. The study is Duke University-based and involves noninvasive imaging and autonomic assessments across patients and controls.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more precise, brain- and autonomic-informed strategies for treating painful TMD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has started to connect brain and autonomic factors with chronic pain, but this project probes their interaction in TMD more thoroughly.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martucci, Katherine Theresa — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Martucci, Katherine Theresa
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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.