Dr. Kyle Allen successfully transitioned his K99/R00 career award from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to its independent research phase. The 3-year $747,000 award will support Dr. Allen’s new laboratory in their investigations of links between chronic TMJ (jaw joint) inflammation, pain, and disability.

TMJ (jaw) disorders are the 2nd most common musculoskeletal condition that results in chronic pain and disability. These disorders affect 5-12% of the population with an annual cost of $4,000,000,000 according to NIDCR health statistics. The goal of this proposal is to develop research tools that will improve our understanding how of temporomandibular joint disorders develop and progress.