Understanding the causes of low back pain related to disc degeneration
Official title: Decoupling Mechanical and Inflammatory Stimuli in Discogenic Low Back Pain
Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-11247718 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into how issues with your back discs can cause ongoing pain, focusing on how stress and inflammation affect nerves in those discs, with the hope of finding new ways to help relieve that pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tempe, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $291,425 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AR080926-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247718 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from chronic low back pain, particularly those with disc degeneration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with low back pain not related to disc degeneration or those with acute pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind chronic low back pain (LBP) that arises from degenerated intervertebral discs. It focuses on how mechanical stress and inflammation affect nerve growth and pain sensation in the discs. By using animal models, the study aims to differentiate the roles of nerve presence, inflammation, and mechanical loading in contributing to pain. The goal is to identify potential new treatment targets for alleviating discogenic pain.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for chronic low back pain, improving quality of life for many patients.
How similar studies have gone: While previous studies have explored anti-inflammatory treatments for discogenic pain, this approach of targeting mechanoreceptors in the disc is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Tempe, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wachs, Rebecca Ann — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Wachs, Rebecca Ann
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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.