Award
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 5F31AR083833-02
Stressful life events confer risk for chronic posttraumatic musculoskeletal pain through DNA methylation changes at the POMC promoter
Recipient
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Award Amount
$41,931.00
Ceiling
$41,931.00
Awarded
December 11, 2025
Identifier
5F31AR083833-02
Research project funded by NIAMS to study the role of DNA methylation at the POMC promoter in the development of chronic posttraumatic musculoskeletal pain following stressful life events and traumatic stress exposures.
Description
This project aims to elucidate biopsychosocial mechanisms underlying the transition from acute pain following traumatic stress exposures (TSE) to chronic post-traumatic pain (CPTP), focusing on DNA methylation as an epigenetic mediator. The research will examine whether stressful life events prior to TSE increase POMC promoter methylation, influencing CPTP development, and how methylation affects gene expression and pain severity. The study will utilize human cohort and molecular studies, with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets.