DNA methylation and chronic low back pain
Official title: Epigenetic Drivers of Chronic Low Back Pain
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11181647 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how DNA on/off switches (DNA methylation) change in people with long-term low back pain to find new ways to treat disc-related pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $581,658 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR083365-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181647 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with chronic low back pain thought to come from intervertebral disc degeneration, including patients undergoing spinal surgery who can donate disc tissue.
✕Less likely to help
People with short-term (acute) back pain or pain clearly caused by non-disc problems (like fractures, infection, or cancer) are unlikely to benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
You may be asked to provide disc tissue if you have surgery or to allow your clinical data and samples to be studied alongside lab work. Researchers will map DNA methylation patterns in degenerated intervertebral discs and compare them to healthier tissue. They will use laboratory experiments and animal models to test whether changing methylation alters gene activity that drives disc degeneration. The goal is to find molecular targets that could be used to develop new treatments for chronic discogenic low back pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that reduce or reverse disc degeneration and lower chronic low back pain by targeting DNA methylation.
How similar studies have gone: Early studies have found links between DNA methylation and chronic pain, but applying epigenetic targeting to treat disc degeneration is largely new and not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stone, Laura S — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Stone, Laura S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Ketamine-assisted care plan to help Veterans with chronic back pain and depression
A program for Veterans with chronic low back pain and depression that uses ketamine infusions followed by a brief narrative therapy to sustain relief from pain and mood improvement.
-
Savoring Meditation for Chronic Low Back Pain patients
A study tests a brief mindfulness-based practice called Savoring Meditation to help people with chronic low back pain feel better emotionally and manage pain in daily life.
-
Chronic Low Back Pain in Older Adults and Hip Impairments
A study to help older adults with chronic low back pain, by looking at how hip problems affect their pain and function and testing tailored non-drug treatments.
-
Mechanical signs from the spine’s discs that predict when back pain becomes long-lasting
A Duke study aims to use new imaging and personal factors to see if the mechanical health of spinal discs can predict when acute low back pain becomes chronic.
-
Genetic predictors of recovery and surgical outcomes for Veterans with chronic low back pain and lumbosacral spine disorders
This project uses VA health records and genetic information to find DNA markers linked to how Veterans fare with chronic low back pain and related spine conditions.
-
Personalized multicomponent therapy for chronic low back pain using smart patient-based algorithms
A U-Michigan-led effort tests a personalized approach to chronic low back pain by tailoring several treatments to individual patients using smart, data-driven decision rules.
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.