How race and income affect long‑term low back pain
Official title: Racial and Socioeconomic Differences in Chronic Low Back Pain
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11251322 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why adults of different races and socioeconomic backgrounds, especially Black and White adults, experience different levels of long‑lasting low back pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $667,061 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD017565-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11251322 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with chronic low back pain (pain lasting 12 weeks or more), especially those willing to attend visits and provide survey responses and biological samples, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with short‑term (acute) low back pain under 12 weeks, children, or those whose pain is due to a clearly identifiable surgical condition may not see direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This research follows adults with chronic low back pain over time to compare pain, disability, and the effects of social stress and resources across racial and income groups. Participants complete questionnaires about pain, mood, and function, give biological samples, and attend periodic study visits for physical and psychosocial measurements. The team will compare non‑Hispanic Black and non‑Hispanic White participants to identify social and biological links to worse pain. You may be asked to come to Washington University in St. Louis for visits and to complete follow‑up surveys and tests.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help tailor treatments and support services to reduce racial and socioeconomic gaps in chronic low back pain outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: The investigators' earlier work already showed that non‑Hispanic Black adults report greater pain and disability and have different psychosocial and biological patterns, so this study builds on promising prior findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goodin, Burel R. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Goodin, Burel R.
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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.