Brain markers that predict who develops long-lasting low back pain
Brain Structural Biomarkers of Risk and Resilience to Pain Chronification
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · NIH-11235895
The team will look at brain structure in people with recent sub-acute low back pain to find features linked to developing or avoiding long-term pain.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11235895 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will take detailed brain scans (MRI) focused on limbic areas like the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus. They will measure brain volume, shape, and white matter properties and follow people who recently developed low back pain (about 6–12 weeks) over time. By comparing scans from people whose pain goes away with those whose pain becomes chronic, they hope to find brain patterns tied to risk or resilience. That work uses standard MRI and clinical follow-up visits rather than experimental drugs or procedures.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with recent sub-acute low back pain (roughly 6–12 weeks since onset) who can attend MRI and follow-up visits.
Not a fit: People without low back pain or those with long-established chronic pain (well beyond the sub-acute window) are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify people at higher risk of chronic low back pain so they can get early, targeted treatment to prevent long-term problems.
How similar studies have performed: Small prior studies have hinted that limbic brain structure and white matter relate to pain chronification, but the approach is still new and needs larger confirmatory work.
Where this research is happening
ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER — ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: GEHA, PAUL — UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- Study coordinator: GEHA, PAUL
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.