Brain changes in chronic low back pain across ages and sexes
Official title: Brain Mechanisms of Chronic Low-Back Pain: Specificity and Effects of Aging and Sex
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11295443 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for brain-based markers of long-term low back pain and how aging and biological sex change those brain patterns for people with chronic low back pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $516,712 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS127901-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11295443 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have had chronic low back pain for months or years and are willing and able to undergo MRI scans would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without chronic low back pain, those with pain unrelated to musculoskeletal or neuropathic causes, or people who cannot have MRI (for example due to implanted metal devices or severe claustrophobia) may not benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You would be taking part in brain imaging (MRI) to find objective patterns linked to long-term low back pain. Researchers will compare brain structure and connections, focusing on areas like the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex, and will look at differences by age and sex. They will also compare low back pain findings with other musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain conditions to see what is specific to low back pain. The goal is to create reliable brain signatures that could help classify and track chronic pain over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to objective brain markers that help diagnose, track, and personalize treatment for chronic low back pain.
How similar studies have gone: Prior neuroimaging studies have reported reproducible changes in brain regions and connectivity in chronic low back pain, so this work builds on promising but still-developing evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Geha, Paul — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Geha, Paul
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how aging and sex affect brain mechanisms in chronic low-back pain
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Genetic predictors of recovery and surgical outcomes for Veterans with chronic low back pain and lumbosacral spine disorders
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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.