Understanding why some head injuries lead to long-lasting headaches and pain sensations
Official title: Mechanisms of Chronic Post-Traumatic Headache and Nociceptive Sensitization: Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome and Descending Pain Circuit Dysfunction
Funded at University of Pr Cayey University Coll · NIH-11425060 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests how early inflammation after repeating mild brain injuries might set up long-lasting headaches and widespread pain, using a rat model to study brain circuits involved in pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pr Cayey University Coll NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cayey, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $620,708 |
| NIH project number | 1R16NS150240-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11425060 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals who have had repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries and are at risk for chronic headaches or widespread pain.
✕Less likely to help
The study uses animals and does not test therapies in people at this stage.
What this research studies
Researchers will use a rat model of repeated concussive brain injury to see if early activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome drives the switch from acute to chronic pain, including chronic headaches. They will examine whether inflammation affects descending pain pathways such as the ACC–vlPAG circuit to explain persistent pain after injury. The study compares injured rats to sham-injured controls and looks at both head- and body-related pain sensitivity. Findings could reveal targets to prevent chronic pain after mild brain injury in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify inflammatory processes and brain circuits to target for preventing chronic post-traumatic headaches.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in animal models have linked inflammation to chronic pain phenotypes, supporting this approach but translation to humans remains to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pr Cayey University Coll
Cayey, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vicente-Rodríguez, Laura Cristina — University of Pr Cayey University Coll
- Study coordinator: Vicente-Rodríguez, Laura Cristina
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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.