Understanding how the body recovers after surgery, focusing on pain and confusion.
Official title: Mechanisms involved in postoperative recovery: a focus on pain, delirium, and neuroinflammation
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-10922713 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how our immune system affects how well people recover after surgery, especially regarding pain and confusion, and it's looking at how things like age and gender play a role, all to help make recovery easier for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $389,627 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM147094-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10922713 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals undergoing surgical procedures, particularly older adults who may be at higher risk for complications like pain and delirium.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing surgery or those with pre-existing severe cognitive impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the biological mechanisms that affect how patients recover after surgery, particularly looking at pain and delirium. It focuses on the role of immune cells in the brain and blood that may influence recovery outcomes. By using advanced technologies and experimental models, the research aims to identify how factors like age and sex impact these immune responses and, consequently, recovery. The goal is to better predict and improve postoperative recovery experiences for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for managing pain and delirium in postoperative patients, enhancing their recovery experience.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of immune responses in postoperative recovery, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burton, Michael D — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Burton, Michael D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Postoperative recovery: how pain, delirium, and brain inflammation are linked
A study exploring how immune cells in the body and brain influence recovery after surgery, especially pain and delirium, to help patients recover faster.
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Understanding Recovery After Surgery: Pain, Confusion, and Brain Inflammation
This project aims to understand why people recover differently after surgery, especially focusing on how pain and confusion happen.
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READI-SET-GO: Improving Delirium Screening for Hospitalized Older Adults
A hospital-based program tests how well routine nurse delirium screening using UB-CAM works when integrated into the electronic health record to improve outcomes for older patients.
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Continuous wearable monitor with AI to prevent agitation and delirium in hospitalized older adults
A wearable sensor and AI system will continuously track agitation in older hospital patients to help prevent delirium and protect brain health.
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Low brain changes from anesthesia may signal early Alzheimer's risk
A study at Stanford will look at whether brain responses to anesthesia during surgery reveal early brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease and delirium risk in people aged 65 and up.
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Why dementia and sudden confusion (delirium) often happen together
This project looks at brain electrical signals and chemical changes to find why people with dementia sometimes develop sudden confusion called delirium.
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.