# Key Molecular Mechanisms of Chronic Pain Vulnerability in Women Experiencing MVC

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $125,629

## Abstract

Abstract
Exposure to traumatic events is common in life. In industrialized nations, motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are
one of the most common types of trauma, with over 50 million MVCs occurring worldwide each year. The great
majority of individuals experiencing MVC do not have serious injury; in the US more than 90% of individuals seen
in the emergency department after MVC are discharged home after evaluation. However, a substantial proportion
of such individuals develop chronic musculoskeletal pain (MSP).
 Most individuals who develop chronic MSP following MVC are women. This fact is consistent with the marked
increase in MSP burden experienced by women vs. men in other settings. Biopsychosocial mechanisms
responsible for this increased vulnerability remain poorly understood, leading the NIH and eminent pain scientists
to call for more research aimed at addressing this knowledge gap.
 The candidate, Dr. Sarah Linnstaedt, is an RNA biologist who seeks a K01 career development award to
gain the training necessary to perform studies that will provide important new insights into the biologic
mechanisms, and the interactions between these mechanisms and cognitive/psychosocial factors, that
contribute to chronic MSP pathogenesis in women. Specifically, the proposed career development award will
provide Dr. Linnstaedt with the knowledge and skills necessary to (1) evaluate candidate biological mechanisms
within contemporary, state-of-the-art biopsychsocial models of chronic MSP that include influential cognitive and
psychosocial factors, (2) perform studies of sex-specific biological mechanisms that previous data, and the
candidate’s pilot data, suggest contribute to chronic MSP in women, and (3) evaluate potential interactions
between biological and psychosocial factors. Data for this work will be drawn from biologic samples collected as
part of a mentor’s longitudinal cohort study of chronic MSP pathogensis after MVC. By the end of the award
period, Dr. Linnstaedt will have the necessary knowledge, experience, skills, and data to obtain an R01 and
become an independently-funded translational research scientist whose work addresses the current marked
disparity in chronic pain incidence among women.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9896771
- **Project number:** 5K01AR071504-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah Linnstaedt
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $125,629
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9896771

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9896771, Key Molecular Mechanisms of Chronic Pain Vulnerability in Women Experiencing MVC (5K01AR071504-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9896771. Licensed CC0.

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