Understanding how the immune system affects chronic back pain
Official title: Neuroimmune Contributions to Low Back Pain
Funded at Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research · NIH-11268384 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research study is exploring how immune system signals and antibodies contribute to low back pain and how this could lead to better treatments for people with persistent back pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,304,634 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AR087066-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11268384 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with chronic or severe low back pain who may have immune system involvement or disc-related pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without immune-mediated components to their back pain or those not aligned with the study's models may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how injuries to spinal discs and the immune response interact to drive back pain. Researchers use animal models and human data to map immune and nerve cell changes after disc injury, including antibody activity in nerves and the spinal cord. The goal is to identify mechanisms that cause pain and test new treatment strategies that target these immune-related pathways. The work could pave the way for therapies that reduce pain by calming specific immune signals without relying only on traditional pain killers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new immune-based treatments that lessen back pain for many patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked neuroimmune activity to back pain, showing promise for targeting immune pathways, but more work is needed to translate findings to therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research
Palo Alto, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clark, David J. — Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research
- Study coordinator: Clark, David J.
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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.