Biomarkers that reveal why acute low back pain becomes chronic
Official title: Biomarkers to Advance Clinical Phenotypes of Low Back Pain (BACk)
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11412948 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study on blood signals and immune factors in people with new acute low back pain to find clues that predict who will develop chronic pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $623,597 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR071440-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412948 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with a new episode of acute low back pain who are willing to provide blood samples and participate in follow-up visits and assessments.
✕Less likely to help
People with long-standing back pain or without acute back pain may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
If you have new acute low back pain, this study will follow you for a year to see how your immune system and inflammation markers relate to pain progression. Researchers will collect a blood sample, test your pain sensitivity, measure your physical function, track activity with an wearable, and gather questionnaires at multiple time points. The goal is to uncover biological clues that signal the transition from acute to chronic back pain, which could guide earlier, more targeted care. This research is observational and involves regular participation, blood tests, and simple performance tasks, with the aim of informing future treatments for back pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new ways to predict and prevent chronic back pain and guide personalized treatment options.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests inflammation plays a role in chronic back pain, but this project seeks to clarify causal immune patterns.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goode, Adam — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Goode, Adam
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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.