Anti-inflammatory stem-cell repair for degenerating spinal discs
Anti-inflammatory Cell Based Repair of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
This work tests whether changing immune signals and normal spinal pressure helps stem cells repair discs for people with disc-related low back pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168822 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have disc-related low back pain, these researchers are working to make stem-cell treatments that survive the inflamed, low-oxygen disc and help rebuild damaged disc tissue. In the lab they will grow disc models with different types of immune cells and apply realistic hydrostatic pressures to see how loading and anti-inflammatory macrophages affect bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. They will use animal models to test whether these adjustments improve tissue repair and reduce inflammation compared with standard cell approaches. The findings aim to guide safer and more effective cell therapies that could move into human trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with degenerative intervertebral disc disease causing chronic discogenic low back pain who might be candidates for future cell-based clinical trials.
Not a fit: People whose back pain is caused by non-disc problems (such as nerve compression, fractures, or infection), those who need immediate surgical stabilization, or those with active infections or incompatible medical conditions would likely not benefit from these preclinical approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could produce stronger, longer-lasting stem-cell treatments that reduce disc inflammation and pain and may delay or prevent spine surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Early clinical and preclinical studies using mesenchymal stem cells for disc repair have shown some promising tissue-restoration and pain reductions but results have been mixed and need improvement.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chahine, Nadeen O. — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Chahine, Nadeen O.
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 below.