Current Grants and Projects
Altered Pain Responsiveness in People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Cancer
NIH/NIA (R01 AG061325-01)
07/01/2019 – 06/30/2024
PI: Monroe MPI: Cowan
This project examines the impact of cancer on psychophysical measures of pain sensitivity and unpleasantness in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A considerable number of older adults will suffer from cancer and co-occurring AD, placing them at great risk of suffering under treated cancer pain. Understanding the impact of cancer and AD on pain perception will provide key insights into cancer pain in AD. Unfortunately, the consequences of untreated cancer pain can be devastating. More than 50% of hospitalized patients with cancer described their pain as ‘distressing, horrible, or excruciating’. It remains unknown how cancer and Alzheimer’s disease alter pain processing. Altered pain processing may further increase the risk for reduced detection of pain upon injury, increase the risk for under treatment of metastatic cancer pain, and may predispose to increased suffering. If our results determine that cancer and co-occurring Alzheimer’s disease place these individuals at risk of increased suffering, targeted analgesic drug development strategies, and/or tailored interventions to maximize pain treatment can then be designed for this highly vulnerable and under studied population. Click here to learn more: https://redcap.link/uthscpainstudy.
Biorepository and Integrative Genomics (BIG) Initiative
The BIG Initiative is in the process of being implemented at the UCH Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic. We plan to investigate the impact and relationship of inflammation, diet, sleep, hormones, trauma, and more through neurobiological markers and genetics.
Affective Mood Repository
As part of our mission to expand the Psychiatry department, we aim to open an exploratory research clinic designed to examine affective mood disorders in partnership with the UCH Psychiatry. We plan to investigate the impact and relationship of inflammation, diet, sleep, hormones, trauma, and more through clinical and research-based behavioral assessments. Stay tuned for more information!
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
As part of our mission to expand the Psychiatry department, we aim to open an TMS treatment and research program in partnership with the UCH Psychiatry. Stay tuned for more information!