Research program
Pain Genetics and Phenotyping
How do genetic differences and measurement choices affect the results of pain studies?
We study the genetics of pain and define pain phenotypes using clinical records, imaging, and patient-reported data.
Why pain phenotyping matters
Pain is not a single trait. Its location, duration, severity, and course can differ substantially between people, and each data source captures only part of that experience. Careful phenotyping is therefore essential for finding and interpreting genetic contributions to pain.
How we study pain genetics and phenotypes
Define pain phenotypes carefully
We distinguish pain by features such as location, duration, severity, co-occurrence, and trajectory instead of treating it as one outcome.
Study the genetic architecture of pain
We use statistical genetics to estimate heritability and identify genetic variation associated with well-defined pain phenotypes.
Use complementary measures
Together, clinical records, imaging, and patient reports can define pain more precisely than any one source alone.
Compare and replicate findings
We test whether other cohorts, data sources, and populations produce similar results.
Projects and papers
Current collaborations include the endometriosis-associated pelvic pain project led by Sawsan As-Sanie and Andrew Schrepf, and the U-M HEAL PAIN Cohort Program led by Daniel Clauw, Kelley McLain Kidwell, and Jenna Wiens. The selected papers show why clear phenotype definitions matter when interpreting genetic results across chronic pain conditions.
Current work
Projects and collaborations
Pain and women's health
ActiveEndometriosis-associated pelvic pain mechanisms
The project examines whether differences in brain structure and connectivity are related to pelvic pain that persists after endometriosis treatment.
Sawsan As-Sanie and Andrew Schrepf are the principal investigators.
R01 · R01HD117775 · 2025-present
Pain research training
ActiveU-M HEAL PAIN Cohort Program
The U-M HEAL PAIN T90/R90 Cohort Program provides research training and mentoring for early-career chronic pain researchers.
Daniel Clauw, Kelley McLain Kidwell, and Jenna Wiens are the principal investigators.
T90/R90 · T90DE034663 / R90DE034663 · 2024-2029 for T90/R90
Publications
Selected papers
Genome-wide analysis identifies impaired axonogenesis in chronic overlapping pain conditions
Brain
Why it matters: Combining all chronic pain locations into one phenotype can obscure important biological differences. Genetic contributions were stronger for multisite than single-site pain; nine of 23 multisite loci replicated in HUNT, while functional genomics and brain imaging pointed toward axonogenesis and corticolimbic circuitry. The results also depend on how researchers define the pain phenotype.
Unbiased immune profiling reveals a natural killer cell-peripheral nerve axis in fibromyalgia
Pain
Why it matters: No single assay is likely to capture all of the biology underlying fibromyalgia. Across patient cohorts, flow cytometry, blood transcriptomics, genetic analyses, and skin biopsy each pointed toward altered natural killer (NK) cell biology, including NK cells near peripheral nerves. Together, the findings support further study of a possible role for NK cells, but they do not show that NK cells cause fibromyalgia.