Understanding how pain and mental health are connected in veterans
Official title: CSRD Research Career Scientist Award Application
Funded at Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco · NIH-11052001 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how veterans experience pain differently when they also have mental health issues like depression or PTSD, with the hope of finding new ways to help manage their pain without using opioids.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 1IK6CX002926-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11052001 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans experiencing chronic pain, particularly those with co-occurring psychiatric disorders such as depression or PTSD.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have chronic pain or psychiatric disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between pain processing and psychiatric disorders, particularly in veterans. By examining how emotional and physiological responses to pain differ among individuals, the study aims to identify unique biomarkers that can lead to personalized, non-opioid pain management strategies. The approach includes experimental methods to perturb responses to pain, allowing researchers to uncover alterations in pain processing linked to conditions like depression and PTSD. Ultimately, the goal is to improve pain therapies and outcomes for veterans suffering from chronic pain and mental health issues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective pain management strategies for veterans, reducing reliance on opioids and improving overall mental health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding the links between pain and mental health, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Strigo, Irina a — Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Strigo, Irina a
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.