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Pain from the Brain: Testing a central neuropathic pain hypothesis in adults with cerebral palsy

Award Number: K23NS146638
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/10/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2031

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Pain from the Brain: Testing a central neuropathic pain hypothesis in adults with cerebral palsy - Seventy percent of adults with cerebral palsy experience debilitating cronic pain. Most of these patients report that existing pain treatments are ineffective. Many patients describe numbness with an increase in pain sensitivity in areas of greatest pain. This project tests the hypothesis that a central neuropathic pain mechanism due to perinatal brain injury explains the severity of pain and the presence of accompanying somatosensory changes we observe in adults with cerebral palsy. If central neuropathic pain is indeed a major (but unrecognized) cause of chronic pain in this population, a paradigm shift toward precision diagnosis and treatment is possible. Specifically, this project will: 1) Test the reproducibility of sensory assessments in adults with cerebral palsy and chronic pain. In this test-retest study, communicative adults with cerebral palsy and chronic pain will undergo sensory assessments twice (two hours apart). This will test the reproducibility of quantitative sensory testing in this population. 2) Evaluate correlations between structural brain MRI metrics and neuropathic pain symptoms in adults with cerebral palsy and chronic pain. The Aim 1 cohort will also undergo structural brain MRI to test if two potential MRI biomarkers (somatosensory thalamus volume loss and thalamus-S1 overconnectivity) correlate with neuropathic pain scores. 3) Evaluate associations between sensory symptoms and chronic pain intensity in adults with cerebral palsy and chronic pain. Hundreds of adult volunteers with cerebral palsy and chronic pain regularly contribute survey data to the Cerebral Palsy Research Network MyCP Community Registry. This Aim will query numbness and pain hypersensitivity in survey participants—examining associations between symptoms to test the hypothesis that pain sensitization is the key mediator linking sensory loss (numbness) to chronic pain intensity. The PI is an early-stage neurodevelopmental physician-scientist; his long-term goal is to develop evidence-based treatment paradigms for those with (and those without) central neuropathic pain. This career development project will evaluate specific assessments with the potential to support or to refute a diagnosis of central neuropathic pain in adults with cerebral palsy. He will conduct this research mentored by a physician-scientist with extensive expertise caring for individuals with cerebral palsy, studying neurobiological mechanisms of related impairments, and evaluating treatments targeting these mechanisms. Co-mentors provide expertise in quantitative sensory testing and in biostatistics/innovative study designs, respectively. This project, supplemented with courses and workshops, will provide the PI with the skills to develop biomarkers, conceptual models, and clinical trials to create evidence-based precision medicine diagnosis and treatment pathways. With these skills, K23 data, and collaborations with Cerebral Palsy Research Network phenotyping efforts, the PI will be well-positioned for future R01 investigations validating central neuropathic pain diagnostic criteria.


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 = $234,360 )
2026	2026	HUGO W. MOSER RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT KENNEDY KRIEGER, INC.	707 N BROADWAY	BALTIMORE	MD	21205	BALTIMORE CITY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	9/10/2026	NEW	$234,360
														Subtotal = $234,360

Grand Total All Awards = $234,360

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Pain from the Brain: Testing a central neuropathic pain hypothesis in adults with cerebral palsy

Award Number: K23NS146638

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/10/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2031

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