A lab model of chronic disc-related low back pain
Official title: Validation of a Translational Model of Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain
Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-11195581 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are reproducing a rat model that mimics long-lasting disc-related low back pain to better reflect the symptoms people experience.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $185,142 |
| NIH project number | 5R61NS133264-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195581 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with chronic low back pain caused by degenerating spinal discs who have not found lasting relief from current treatments are the group most likely to benefit from advances this work enables.
✕Less likely to help
People with short-term (acute) back pain, pain from non-disc causes (such as muscle strain or certain nerve compressions), or those needing immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical work.
What this research studies
This project recreates a recently published rat model of disc degeneration that produces chronic low back pain so scientists can study the same kind of pain people have. The original lab will train a second lab in the surgical method and the pain behavior tests, and then both labs will run the same experiments at the same time to see if the results match. The work uses surgical procedures in rats to cause disc degeneration and measures changes in pain-related behaviors and responses to interventions. If the model is reproducible across labs, researchers will have a more reliable tool for studying causes of discogenic pain and for testing potential treatments before human trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If validated, this model could speed development of more effective treatments and reduce time spent on therapies that fail in humans.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds on a recently published rat model that showed promising similarity to human discogenic pain, but cross-laboratory replication remains limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wachs, Rebecca Ann — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Wachs, Rebecca Ann
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.