# Resolving orofacial neuropathic pain evoked by compression of a trigeminal nerve branch using rationally integrated complementary approaches

> **NIH NIH P01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $305,071

## Abstract

Project 1: Resolving orofacial neuropathic pain evoked by compression of a trigeminal nerve branch
using rationally integrated complementary approaches
ABSTRACT
Neuropathic pain in the craniofacial region innervated by trigeminal sensory neurons affects approximately at
least 1x106 Americans. The goal of this project is to assess efficiency and elucidate key mechanisms of
rationally-combined complementary approaches to treat trigeminal neuropathic pain. The central hypothesis
of Project-1 is that natural pro-resolution lipid mediators (specialized pro-resolution lipid mediators, SPMs) or
auricular electro-acupuncture (aEA) can produce beneficial effects in alleviating orofacial neuropathic pain,
aggravated by stress, by modulating neuroinflammation and neural plasticity. We will use a well-established
mouse model of trigeminal neuropathic pain, chronic constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CCI-ION), to test
our central hypothesis. We will first define the time course of neuropathic pain and inflammatory and
neuroinflammatory profiles in response to CCI-ION in both sexes with and without stress. Subsequently, we
will determine the effects of aEA and SPMs on pain-related behaviors as well as resolution of inflammatory
and neuroinflammatory profiles evoked by CCI-ION. Finally, we will explore effectiveness of aEA and SPMs
on reducing spontaneous activity of trigeminal sensory neurons and of ongoing pain-activated CNS neurons
after CCI-ION.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9703533
- **Project number:** 1P01AT009968-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** WOLFGANG B. LIEDTKE
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $305,071
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-04-20 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9703533

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9703533, Resolving orofacial neuropathic pain evoked by compression of a trigeminal nerve branch using rationally integrated complementary approaches (1P01AT009968-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9703533. Licensed CC0.

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