# Behavioral Core

> **NIH NIH P01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $273,541

## Abstract

The measurement of behavioral signs of evoked and spontaneous pain in rodents is essential to the success 
of all the 4 subprojects in this program. The Behavioral Core includes 8 newly designed test rooms in a new 
research Building (MSRBIII). All the behavioral tests in Aim 1 and Aim 2 of all 4 projects will be conducted 
blindly by three well-trained technicians. All the behavioral data will be saved electronically, analyzed by two 
statisticians, and shared with Project PIs. We will measure evoked pain such as mechanical allodynia and cold 
allodynia in both sexes in 4 clinically relevant mouse models of pain. We will also test ongoing pain using 
conditioned place preference and avoidance (CPP and CPA). We will also measure pain-associated co- 
morbidity, such as anxiety and depression. We will test the hypothesis that swim stress can prolong the 
duration of pain. Pain-related behaviors will be tested before and after complementary treatments such as 
electroacpuncture and DHA. The central hypothesis of this Program Project is that multiple complementary 
approaches, including electroacupuncture and natural product DHA, may modify distinct inflammation and 
neuroinflammation processes. We will test our hypotheses in four clinically relevant animal models via the 
following specific aims: Specific Aim 1: Define the time course of neuropathic pain, postoperative pain, 
functional pain, and trigeminal pain in 4 clinically relevant mouse models and test the effects of stress and sex 
on the duration of pain in these models; Specific Aim 2: Ascertain the effects of pre-treatment and post- 
treatment of EA, aEA, DHA, and RvD1 on neuropathic pain, postoperative pain, functional pain, and trigeminal 
pain in 4 mouse models; Specific Aim 3 (Exploratory): Develop operant behavioral assays for non-reflexed 
ongoing pain. We will develop and optimize operant measurement of orofacial pain using Orofacial Stimulation 
of Ugo Basile. We will also optimize vocalization for detecting acute and chronic pain. Testing behavior in 
different animal models by the same experienced personnel in the Behavioral Core and collecting the data 
using electronic-data-report-system will enhance the Scientific Rigor and Reproducibility of the PPG.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9703531
- **Project number:** 1P01AT009968-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** WILLIAM MAIXNER
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $273,541
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-04-20 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9703531

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9703531, Behavioral Core (1P01AT009968-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9703531. Licensed CC0.

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