Faculty Member Awarded NIH and NSF Grants to Study Chronic Pain, Neuron Functioning

Jennifer Crodelle, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics, received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in September to study why patients experience varying levels of pain relief from spinal cord stimulation. A month later, she was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to investigate how the buildup of tau protein—associated with neurodegenerative diseases—affects neuron function.

The $540,000, three-year grant from NIH’s National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health will support Crodelle’s research proposal, which uses mathematical modeling to test protocols used in spinal cord stimulation—a medical procedure that uses electrical impulses—for pain relief. 

More than 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with many relying on spinal cord stimulation.Results from the procedure vary, however, with some patients experiencing significant pain relief while others feel minimal or no improvement. Crodelle believes these variations in pain relief are due in part to anatomical differences and spinal cord stimulation protocols.

“This grant allows us to evaluate sources we believe are causing variability in pain relief,” said Crodelle, an applied mathematician who explores problems in neuroscience that affect people’s quality of life. “Results could lead to procedural modifications that increase pain relief for patients undergoing spinal cord stimulation treatment.” 

Her research proposal, “Modeling mechanisms of interindividual variation in pain modulation by spinal cord stimulation” will test specific protocols such as electrode placement and levels of electrical impulse frequency. She will also run mathematical models to determine whether differences in the spinal structure of patients and thickness of fluid around their spinal cords impacts pain relief outcomes.

NSF Grant Supports Neurodegenerative Disease Research 

Crodelle’s $237,174 NSF grant, awarded during the first quarter of FY26, will support her project, “EPSCoR Research Fellows: NSF: Building Mechanistic Models for the Interaction of Tau Protein and Neuronal Voltage.” The proposal is designed to shed light on the functional relationship between the buildup of pathological tau protein—which occurs during neurodegenerative disease—and neuron activity. 

The healthy brain contains millions of neurons that rapidly transfer information across different regions. During neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, explains Crodelle, this communication breaks down. Experimental studies show a relationship between the buildup of a pathological (diseased) protein called tau and neuron activity and communication. 

“The aim of this grant is to develop novel mathematical models to explore the interdependent relationship between neuron activity and pathological tau protein concentration inside the cell, and how that affects neuronal communication through synapses,” said Crodelle. “The results will encourage the development of new models to make strides toward being able to use neuronal activity as a marker for disease progression.” 

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Crodelle is known for involving undergraduates in her research, having employed 14 summer research assistants over the past five years. Five of those students presented their work at national mathematics conferences, and three have gone on to pursue PhDs in applied math. 

The NIH and NSF grants include extensive opportunities for undergraduate research. The NIH grant includes funding for two undergraduate researchers each summer for a total of six research assistants. In addition to working with Crodelle on mathematical modeling and other research methods, students will travel to the University of Michigan to work with the project’s co-principal investigators. They will spend a week in Ann Arbor attending research meetings, training with graduate students, and conducting lab work. 

“This project was designed to include students at several stages of their education,” wrote Crodelle in her proposal. “Through participation in the proposed research project, students at the College will be exposed to a cutting-edge, novel therapeutic treatment for chronic pain and receive hands-on experience with a 3D spinal cord modeling framework—something they would not otherwise encounter.”

The NSF grant supports a two-year collaboration between Crodelle and an applied mathematics researcher at Duke University. Undergraduate researchers from Middlebury will join a summer collaborative research program sponsored by Duke’s Department of Mathematics where they will connect with other student cohorts to learn about their research and participate in social and professional development activities.

“Faculty-student collaborative research stands as one of the defining features of the liberal arts experience at Middlebury,” said Roberto Lint Sagarena, dean of faculty and professor of American Studies. “Jennifer’s success in securing competitive research grants exemplifies this commitment. Through her externally funded work, our students gain invaluable hands-on experience with cutting-edge scholarship and develop critical research skills alongside a dedicated mentor.”