Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Targeting pain sensitization in knee osteoarthritis by conditioning the endogenous pain control system using reflex conditioning.

Award Number: K23HD118599
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2031

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Targeting pain sensitization in knee osteoarthritis by conditioning the endogenous pain control system using reflex conditioning. - PROJECT SUMMARY Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability, affecting 12% of older adults in the United States. Because there are no disease modifying therapies, treatment focuses on improving pain and physical function. Pain sensitization represents a major challenge to treatment effectiveness, as it contributes to heightened pain experience and functional decline in knee OA and affects up to 41% of individuals. Current non-specific interventions for pain sensitization have limited efficacy, highlighting the need for interventions that specifically target sensitized nerve pathways. Neurofeedback offers a potential solution by enabling individuals to down- regulate specific neural pathways associated with pain (i.e., reduce central pain processing via pain- and sensory-pathway inhibition). The project objectives are to fill critical knowledge gaps by identifying therapeutic targets of pain sensitization in knee OA to inform personalized neurofeedback interventions. Our research will primarily test the safety and feasibility of neurofeedback using the nociceptive flexor withdrawal response, which has been shown to be elevated in patients with movement-evoked knee OA pain. We will also determine the relations between clinical measures of pain sensitivity and alterations in central pain processing further expanding our understanding of the role of neuroplasticity in pain sensitization. Lastly, we will validate our laboratory model for experimentally recreating movement-evoked knee pain, which will enable new testing paradigms by which to study knee OA pain. To accomplish this, we will complete three aims: 1) test the safety and feasibility of using neurofeedback to down-condition the flexor withdrawal reflex; 2) determine the relation of clinical tests of pain sensitization to central pain processing in those with knee OA; and 3) validate experimental methods for reproducing movement-evoked knee OA pain. Our hypotheses posit that neurofeedback can treat pain and pain sensitization through modulation of central pain processing (i.e., reduction in pain- and sensory- pathway excitability). The findings will advance our understanding of knee OA pathophysiology and inform the development of targeted interventions in improve pain. Since pain sensitization is commonly observed across several chronic pain disorders (e.g., low back pain, fibromyalgia), this proposal’s contributions to treating sensitization via reflex conditioning will have broader implications for treatment of chronic pain. Exploring new tools for personalized chronic pain treatments aligns with the NICHD mission. My mentorship team is uniquely suited to offer necessary training in non-invasive peripheral nerve and brain stimulation techniques (Dr. Tunik, mentor), clinical trials (Dr. Hillman, co-mentor), quantitative sensory testing (Dr. Neogi, co-mentor), and the design and development of neurofeedback interventions (Drs. Thompson and Erdogmus, consultants). My training objectives are to become an independent clinician-scientist focused on developing novel neurofeedback interventions to improve pain sensitization, a promising yet largely unexplored avenue for pain management.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $162,864 )
2026	2026	NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY	360 HUNTINGTON AVE	BOSTON	MA	02115	SUFFOLK	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	8/3/2026	NEW	$162,864
														Subtotal = $162,864

Grand Total All Awards = $162,864

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Targeting pain sensitization in knee osteoarthritis by conditioning the endogenous pain control system using reflex conditioning.

Award Number: K23HD118599

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2031

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer