NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Mindfulness plus AI to personalize care for chronic low back pain

Official title: IMPACT: Integrative Mindfulness-Based Predictive Approach for Chronic Low Back Pain Treatment

Funded at Worcester Polytechnic Institute · NIH-10992095 · Data updated 2026-11-12

Using AI and wearable and survey data to find which adults with chronic low back pain are likely to benefit from a mindfulness-based program.

More Low Back Pain research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWorcester Polytechnic Institute
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Worcester, United States)
Project startSeptember 21, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2028
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$6,889,914
NIH project number4UH3NS135168-02
Project IDNIH-10992095 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults (21+) with chronic low back pain who can attend MBSR sessions, use wearable monitors, and complete questionnaires are the ideal candidates.

Less likely to help

People without chronic low back pain, those unable to participate in MBSR classes or wear monitoring devices, or those with conditions that prevent safe participation may not benefit from this work.

What this research studies

You would join a program that delivers Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for chronic low back pain while researchers collect sleep, activity, heart rate variability, mood, pain, and social support data over time. The team will start with a smaller group (about 50 people) and then expand to a larger sample (target n≈350) to build and test machine learning models that predict who improves with MBSR. Data will come from wearable monitors, questionnaires, and clinical visits to track changes during and after the program. The goal is to use those measurements to guide future choices about non-drug pain care.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the project could help match people with chronic low back pain to mindfulness therapy that is most likely to help them and avoid treatments that won't.

How similar studies have gone: Mindfulness programs have helped some people with chronic back pain, but using AI on wearables and biopsychosocial data to predict individual response is a newer and still emerging approach.

Where this research is happening

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Worcester, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: King, Jean a — Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Study coordinator: King, Jean a

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.