Understanding the causes of pain in oral cancer patients
Official title: Dissecting the heterogeneity of oral cancer pain
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11081863 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why kids with oral cancer feel different levels of pain, so we can find better ways to help them feel more comfortable.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $94,281 |
| NIH project number | 7K23DE029844-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11081863 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pediatric patients diagnosed with oral cancer who are experiencing pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with oral cancer who are not experiencing pain or those with other unrelated conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the biological mechanisms behind the pain experienced by patients with oral cancer, particularly focusing on pediatric patients. The project aims to identify how different factors contribute to the variability in pain symptoms, which can help in developing targeted treatments. The research will involve both laboratory work and patient-oriented studies to ensure that findings are applicable to real-world clinical settings. The principal investigator will collaborate with experienced mentors to enhance the understanding of orofacial pain and improve management strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective pain management strategies for patients suffering from oral cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding pain mechanisms in other cancer types, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sawicki, Caroline — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Sawicki, Caroline
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Endosomal signaling and cancer pain control in oral cancer
A study to understand how signals inside nerve cells and supportive cells contribute to pain in people with oral cancer.
-
Truncated TrkB and Oral Cancer Pain in Head and Neck Cancer
This project looks at a specific brain receptor told to influence pain in people with oral cancer to find new ways to reduce pain without heavy opioids.
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Understanding how mouth cancer proteases drive pain in patients
This NIH grant looks at how enzymes in oral cancer tumors may cause pain, aiming to connect specific proteases with how patients feel pain.
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Blocking HB-EGF and trigeminal EGFR to reduce oral cancer pain and opioid tolerance
Blocking HB-EGF and EGFR signals in trigeminal nerve cells to try to reduce severe mouth cancer pain and slow opioid tolerance for people with oral cancer.
-
Continuous flow production of antibody-loaded nanoparticles for non-opioid oral cancer pain relief
A non-opioid approach using antibody-packed nanoparticles is being developed to relieve oral cancer pain and improve quality of life.
-
Investigating a specific protein's role in pain from oral cancer
This study is looking at how a protein called TrkBT1 affects pain in people with head and neck cancer, with the goal of finding better ways to manage that pain without relying too much on opioids.
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.