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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Worcester Polytechnic Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $6,889,914 |
| NIH project number | 4UH3NS135168-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-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
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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.