The University of Michigan Medical School Department of Anesthesiology has been awarded a $16.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to improve the treatment of chronic low back pain through personalized medicine approaches that match interventions to individual patient characteristics and needs.
Funding is provided by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), as part of the NIH HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative.
“Despite the range of treatments available for chronic pain, only about a third of patients experience significant benefit from any one approach,” said Daniel Clauw, MD, professor of anesthesiology and rheumatology and one of the study’s principal investigators.
“Our vision is for a future where clinicians can use brief but powerful assessments to match each patient to the intervention most likely to help them, moving beyond trial-and-error care.”
For many people with chronic low back pain, finding relief can mean years of cycling through different treatments, trying one after another before finally discovering what helps.
The study seeks to change this current experience by helping doctors recommend the right treatment, the first time. Instead of relying on trial and error, the research team aims to develop practical ways for providers to use information such as a patient’s medical history, life experiences, and responses to brief questionnaires or simple office tests to guide treatment choices.
“We hear so often from patients about the frustration of what is typically a hit-and-miss process,” said Afton Hassett, PsyD, associate professor of anesthesiology and co-principal investigator. “Our goal is to develop solutions that are accessible for any clinic, so more people get meaningful relief, sooner.”