Better evidence.
Brighter futures.
Follow independently registered trigeminal neuralgia studies, read accessible evidence reviews and see TNA UK’s documented patient-research record. We distinguish findings from limitations, and work already delivered from proposals still seeking partners.
Explore our three research pages
Research
THE EVIDENCEUnderstand the research, unanswered questions and priorities for progress.
Explore researchResearch Partnerships
WORK WITH USExplore ethical collaboration and meaningful patient involvement.
Explore partnershipsResearch Funding
SUPPORT PROGRESSExplore research investment and responsible ways to support progress.
Explore funding
From patient experience
to real change.
Research should answer the questions that matter to people living with trigeminal neuralgia. We advocate for better evidence and meaningful involvement of people with lived experience.
Discover our prioritiesA TRANSPARENT RESEARCH RECORD
What we have done. What comes next.
Meaningful progress starts with clear evidence and an honest account of responsibility. Here is the difference between work TNA UK can document, evidence still being reviewed, and research questions for which partners and funding are needed.
A long-standing record of supporting research
TNA UK’s published 2014 Chairman’s Report records research activity associated with its Medical Advisory Board, including work involving medicines, surgical outcomes and genetics. Its trustees’ report for the year ended March 2023 records charity support for a PhD student and £7,336 in research costs. These are documented parts of TNA UK’s history; they do not mean that TNA UK itself sponsored or conducted every clinician-led study.
Read the 2014 report ↗ · Read the 2022–23 trustees’ report and accounts ↗
Surveys and independently led research engagement
The 2024–25 Patient Experience Survey included 567 respondents. During engagement with the independently sponsored Libra study, TNA UK reported over 400 expressions of interest and more than 320 attendees at a related patient webinar. The latter figures describe engagement, not trial enrolment.
See the patient-evidence record and engagement context →2026 patient-experience evidence
The source-audited publication candidate draws on consented survey responses, with important limits arising from self-selection and self-reported experience. Independent methodological, clinical and qualitative review is outstanding. We will not represent provisional results as final, nationally representative findings.
See the 2026 survey status →Earlier diagnosis, better outcomes, a clearer patient voice
Potential future work includes patient-informed questions about dental and primary-care diagnostic pathways, effectiveness and treatment burden, long-term outcomes and outcomes that matter in everyday life. These are proposed priorities, not commissioned or funded clinical trials.
Explore specific research-funding proposals →Research studies and trial listings elsewhere on this page are conducted by their named sponsors and investigators. Recruitment and study status can change; always consult the official registry and clinical team.
WHERE PROGRESS IS NEEDED
Research shaped by real needs.
Important questions remain about how trigeminal neuralgia develops, why treatments affect people differently and how to improve outcomes for those whose pain remains difficult to manage.
Earlier, more accurate diagnosis
Understanding symptoms, diagnostic pathways and reasons for avoidable delay.
Read the clinical studies 02Better treatments and care
Strengthening evidence about effectiveness, safety, risks and longer-term outcomes.
Understand the evidence 03Quality of life
Recognising effects on work, family, sleep, mental wellbeing and everyday life.
Patient survey 04Meaningful patient involvement
Helping people with lived experience contribute to relevant research questions and study design.
Get involved in researchUNDERSTANDING THE EVIDENCE
What we know. What we still need to know.
Reliable research brings clinical evidence together with the experiences of people affected. Individual experiences are important, but must not be confused with proof of treatment effectiveness.
Our research information brings together patient evidence, independently registered clinical studies, research engagement and questions requiring further investigation. We link to original sources and explain evidence limitations so readers can distinguish established findings from future ambitions.
TNFP does not claim to conduct clinical trials or deliver cures. Our long-term ambition is to see greater investment in evidence that could improve diagnosis, treatment and, ultimately, prevention.
HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE
Research works better when patients are heard.
We welcome responsible conversations with clinicians, research teams and organisations investigating trigeminal neuralgia and related facial pain conditions.
Learn how patient experience could inform suitable research, or explore opportunities to support progress.
Current TN trials and studies
Trigeminal neuralgia research is taking place around the world. We independently follow publicly registered studies across medicines, radiosurgery, procedures, neurophysiology and emerging treatments.
Being listed here does not mean that we run, fund or endorse a study. We link to the official study record so patients, clinicians and researchers can check the current information for themselves.
URGEnt-TN: Ultra-Early Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery
University of Alberta, Canada
Phase 2 | NCT06949436 | Estimated enrolment: 80
What is being studied? Researchers are testing whether selected people with classical or idiopathic TN could benefit from Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery earlier in the treatment pathway, before they become medically refractory.
Why could it matter? The study asks whether earlier radiosurgery could provide durable pain relief and reduce medication burden for some patients.
What don’t we know yet? This is an ongoing trial. It does not prove that earlier Gamma Knife is better or that treatment pathways should already change.
OnabotulinumtoxinA for Trigeminal Neuralgia
Stanford University, United States
Phase 4 | NCT06216886 | Estimated enrolment: 20
What is being studied? This randomised controlled trial compares intradermal onabotulinumtoxinA with saline in people with TN who meet the study criteria.
Why could it matter? The study is seeking stronger controlled evidence about whether onabotulinumtoxinA can help selected people whose medication has not provided adequate control and who are not ready for, do not want, or are not candidates for surgery.
What don’t we know yet? Recruitment into a trial does not make onabotulinumtoxinA an established standard treatment for TN. Results are needed before conclusions can be drawn from this study.
RELIEF
Kriya Therapeutics, Canada
Phase 1/2 | NCT07596485 | Estimated enrolment: 24
What is being studied? RELIEF is an early-stage study of RP-008, also known as KRIYA-748, given by percutaneous injection and followed by daily oral varenicline. Researchers are assessing safety, tolerability, dose and preliminary effects on TN pain and attack frequency.
Why could it matter? People whose TN is poorly controlled need new approaches to be investigated properly. Early-stage studies are an important first step in finding out whether a new approach is safe enough and promising enough to study further.
What don’t we know yet? This is Phase 1/2 research. It does not establish that the treatment is safe or effective for routine TN care.
Trigeminal Neuralgia Electrophysiology
University of Minnesota, United States
NCT05269472 | Estimated enrolment: 30
What is being studied? Researchers are studying whether trigeminal somatosensory evoked responses can be measured during percutaneous rhizotomy to improve personalised mapping of the trigeminal system.
Why could it matter? Better physiological information could eventually help specialists understand the nerve more precisely during treatment.
What don’t we know yet? The study is examining feasibility. It does not yet show that the technique improves long-term patient outcomes.
TRITON
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, France
NCT06863324 | Estimated enrolment: 74
What is being studied? TRITON is examining whether individual radiosensitivity is associated with late effects and outcomes after radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia.
Why could it matter? If researchers can better understand why people respond differently to radiosurgery, future treatment decisions may become more individualised.
What don’t we know yet? This research does not yet provide a validated test for deciding who should receive radiosurgery or predicting individual outcomes.
Libra: basimglurant
Noema Pharma | Phase 2/3 | NCT05217628
Libra is evaluating basimglurant in adults with trigeminal neuralgia whose pain responded inadequately to their existing treatment. The official ClinicalTrials.gov record currently lists the study as active but not recruiting and does not currently post study results.
Our role was patient engagement and communication, not sponsorship, eligibility decisions or clinical management.
More international TN research to follow
Selected registered studies worldwide, ordered by their latest public registry-update date (newest first). The date shows when the registry entry was last updated, not when TNFP reviewed it. Inclusion does not mean TNA UK funds, runs or endorses a study.
CHINA · MEDICINE DEVELOPMENT
SR750: randomised phase 2 trial
NCT06571448 · Shanghai SIMR Biotechnology
Registry last updated: 24 April 2026 · Status: completed. This placebo-controlled phase 2 study tested SR750 in people with TN. It enrolled 138 participants. No results are posted in the trial register. Completion does not show that SR750 is safe or effective for routine care.
JAPAN · DENTISTRY AND DIAGNOSIS
TN-DPC: patients attending a dental pain clinic
UMIN000060471 · Institute of Science Tokyo
Registry last updated: 26 January 2026 · Status: no longer recruiting. This observational study examines records for 303 people seen in a dental pain clinic, including dental history, MRI findings, medicines and referrals. The registry does not provide published study findings.
FRANCE · DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING
SENSE: MRI of the trigeminal nerve
NCT05051072 · Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild
Registry last updated: 11 June 2025 · Listed status: recruiting. Researchers are investigating whether diffusion-tensor and functional MRI can reveal trigeminal nerve changes. Because the registry has not been updated recently, anyone considering participation should check availability with the study team. This is not an established new diagnostic test.
Registry entries reviewed: 20 October 2026. Recruitment details and study statuses can change between updates. Always check the official record and contact the research team before relying on a listed status. A registered study is not evidence that a treatment works.
Latest TN research, explained
Research updates are presented newest first, with the original source linked. We explain what was studied, what researchers found, how strong the evidence is, what remains uncertain and whether it changes clinical care. Older TNA UK research coverage is retained below.
15 OCT 2026 · SURGICAL EVIDENCE
Endoscopic vs microscopic MVD: October review
A systematic review in Acta Neurochirurgica examined 10 non-randomised studies (1,051 patients). Overall adequate pain relief was similar. Some results favoured endoscopic surgery for recurrence and complications, but evidence certainty was low. These findings do not establish that one technique is superior or change NHS guidance. DOI: 10.1007/s00701-026-07045-5.
10 OCT 2026 · TREATMENT RESEARCH
Coblation vs radiofrequency: October review
A BMC Neurology systematic review included four comparisons. Analysis of two randomised trials (254 patients) suggested less facial numbness with coblation, while short-term pain relief was broadly similar. Evidence comes from a small, single-centre body of work with limited long-term follow-up; it is not practice-changing. DOI: 10.1186/s12883-026-05495-z.
ACUTE TREATMENT
IV Fosphenytoin for TN
What a 2026 multicentre randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial tells us about hospital-based treatment for severe acute TN exacerbations.
MS & TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA
TN Surgery in MS
A new systematic review examines surgical treatment for trigeminal neuralgia associated with multiple sclerosis — what the evidence shows, where uncertainty remains and why individual treatment selection matters.
LONG-TERM OUTCOMES
Swedish Trigeminal Neuralgia Study
What a study of 3,531 adults followed over many years tells us about the wider health and safety burden associated with TN, and what it cannot prove.
SURGICAL EVIDENCE
Endoscopic MVD: New Evidence
What a 2026 systematic review of 1,205 patients tells us about endoscopic and microscopic microvascular decompression, recurrence, complications and what the evidence still cannot prove.
What does the evidence actually mean?
When we cover important research, we use the same questions each time so that people can see the difference between an interesting finding and evidence strong enough to change care.
What was studied?
What question were the researchers trying to answer?
How was the study carried out?
Was it a randomised trial, an observational study, a systematic review, laboratory work or another type of research?
What did researchers find?
What were the important results, in plain English?
How strong is the evidence?
How many people took part? Was there a comparison group? How long were people followed?
What are the limitations?
What can the study not tell us, and what uncertainty remains?
Does this change treatment now?
An interesting result is not automatically a new standard of care. We make that distinction clear.
What should TN research answer next?
Why does diagnosis take too long for some people?
We need better recognition and clearer routes between dentistry, primary care and specialist services.
Can TN be identified more accurately?
Research into clinical tools, imaging, disease mechanisms and other diagnostic approaches could help reduce uncertainty.
Can medicines work better with fewer side effects?
Pain control matters, but so do cognition, fatigue, balance, independence, work and quality of life.
What should happen during an acute TN crisis?
Patients and clinicians need clearer evidence about what to do when usual treatment is no longer controlling severe pain.
Which treatment is most likely to help which person?
Better evidence could make treatment decisions more individualised and better informed.
Why does pain return?
Recurrence following remission, medication, procedures or surgery remains an important research question.
Can we predict progression?
Understanding why TN changes over time may lead to earlier and more targeted treatment.
Can TN eventually be prevented or cured?
That remains the biggest question. Improving treatment matters now, but research should keep aiming beyond symptom control.
Our patient evidence
Our 2024-25 survey gathered 567 consenting responses on diagnosis, treatment, daily life and the impact of TN.
Work with us on research
We welcome researchers, clinicians, universities, funders and life-sciences partners who want to improve outcomes for people living with TN.
Helping patients while research progresses.
Our support is here every day of the year, while we work towards a future without TN pain.
Research takes time. People need help now.
For over 20 years, we have supported people affected by trigeminal neuralgia.
Our helpline and e-helpline are supported seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, alongside Regional Support Groups and our Friendship Line. That support continues whether or not a particular clinical study is recruiting.
Our support does not disappear when a study finishes or a funding programme ends.
Donations help us continue supporting people living with TN and their families while strengthening patient evidence, research engagement, education, trusted information and the patient voice.
Our longevity gives us experience. Our community gives us insight. Their trust gives us a responsibility to use both well.
Help us support people living with TN today while working towards a better future.
You can also remember TNA UK in your Will. A legacy gift can help future generations access support and keep patients involved in research.
Trigeminal neuralgia research: questions and answers
Current TN research includes studies of disease mechanisms, diagnosis, imaging, medicines, acute treatment, radiosurgery, procedures, treatment timing, recurrence, patient outcomes and quality of life. New clinical trials are also investigating emerging therapeutic approaches.
Yes. Current studies include work on medicines, onabotulinumtoxinA, earlier Gamma Knife treatment, neurophysiological techniques, radiosurgery outcomes and emerging treatments. Recruitment changes over time, so the official study registry should always be checked.
Some studies recruit people affected by TN. Each study has its own eligibility criteria. The research team responsible for the study decides eligibility and manages informed consent, study procedures and participant safety.
There is not currently a treatment that cures every form of TN. Research is investigating the mechanisms of the condition, better diagnosis, new treatments and ways of improving existing treatment. The long-term ambition must remain prevention and lasting freedom from TN pain.
Patients can help identify important research questions, explain how TN affects everyday life, review study information, identify barriers to participation and help researchers select outcomes that matter in the real world.
Researchers can approach us about patient and public involvement, research priorities, study design, patient information, outcome measures, research webinars, appropriate research communications and dissemination.
We consider the type and design of a study, participant numbers, comparison groups where relevant, outcomes, follow-up, publication status, limitations, funding and potential conflicts of interest. We distinguish early research from established evidence and trial protocols from completed results.
Help change the future of trigeminal neuralgia
We need to understand TN better, recognise it earlier, improve treatment and keep working towards a future in
which trigeminal neuralgia can be prevented or stopped.
Medical information
This page provides general information about research and clinical studies. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a recommendation to take part in a particular treatment or study. People considering clinical research should read the official study information and speak with the research team and an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.