Understanding jaw pain and migraine in women
Official title: Female-specific role of trigeminal dynorphin in temporomandibular disorder and its comorbidity
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-11143871 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for new ways to treat jaw pain (TMD) and migraine headaches, especially in women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $359,813 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE032061-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143871 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who experience both temporomandibular disorder pain and migraine headaches, particularly women, are the focus of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose pain is not related to temporomandibular disorders or migraine headaches may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
What this research studies
Many women experience both jaw pain (TMD) and migraine headaches, but we don't fully understand why these conditions often occur together or why they affect women more. This project uses animal models to explore the specific biological pathways involved in this overlapping pain. Researchers are focusing on a molecule called dynorphin in a specific brain area, which appears to play a role in female mice. The goal is to uncover new targets for developing treatments that could help manage both TMD and migraine pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, more effective treatments specifically for women who suffer from both temporomandibular disorders and migraine headaches.
How similar studies have gone: This research builds upon preliminary animal model findings that identified a specific target, dynorphin, as potentially important in female-specific pain.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tao, Feng — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Tao, Feng
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Female-specific trigeminal dynorphin role in TMD and migraine overlap
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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.