Understanding how the nervous system affects head and neck cancer pain
Official title: Sympathetic modulation of head and neck cancer pain
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11120982 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how the body's stress response system might make head and neck cancer pain worse and how it could affect tumor growth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 6, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $377,625 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE030892-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11120982 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who are preparing for treatment or are in survivorship may be ideal candidates for future related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without head and neck cancer or those whose pain is not related to the sympathetic nervous system may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Many people with head and neck cancer experience significant pain and stress, which can impact their well-being and even survival. We want to understand if the body's "fight or flight" nervous system plays a role in making this pain more severe and potentially influencing how the cancer progresses. Our team will study how pain, stress, and certain stress hormones are connected in patients with head and neck cancer before and after their treatment. This work builds on promising findings from lab models where a common medication helped reduce pain and tumor size.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to manage pain and potentially improve outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer by targeting the body's stress response.
How similar studies have gone: Early findings in laboratory models using similar approaches have shown promise in reducing cancer-related pain and tumor growth.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scheff, Nicole N — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Scheff, Nicole N
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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.