Understanding how quitting smoking affects pain in people with chronic pain.
Official title: Neural correlates and behavioral impact of withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia among people who smoke with and without chronic pain
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11132238 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how quitting smoking affects pain levels in people who smoke, especially those with chronic pain, to see if stopping smoking makes pain feel worse and how that might impact their ability to quit; we're inviting daily smokers, both with and without chronic pain, to join us in this research.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $781,942 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA060859-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132238 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who smoke cigarettes and either have chronic pain or do not have chronic pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not smoke or are not interested in quitting smoking may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between smoking cessation and pain levels in individuals who smoke, particularly focusing on those with chronic pain. It aims to understand how withdrawal from smoking can lead to increased pain sensitivity, known as hyperalgesia, and how this affects the ability to quit smoking. Participants will undergo brain imaging (fMRI) to observe changes in brain responses to pain before and after a period of abstinence from smoking. The study will involve adults who smoke daily, both with and without chronic pain, to explore these interactions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved smoking cessation strategies for individuals with chronic pain, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that smoking and pain are interconnected, but this specific investigation into withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sweitzer, Maggie M — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Sweitzer, Maggie M
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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.