Back Pain Consortium Research Program
Overview
The Research Need
Chronic low back pain is one of the most common forms of chronic pain among adults worldwide; according to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010, it ranked highest in terms of years lived with disability among hundreds of conditions. National Health Interview Survey data indicate that 20 percent of adults in the United States reported “frequent” back pain and 28 percent experienced low back pain that lasted one or more days during the previous three months. Current chronic low back pain treatment options are ineffective, which has led to an increased use of opioids.
About the Program
The Back Pain Consortium (BACPAC) Research Program is a translational, patient-centered effort to address the need for effective and personalized therapies for chronic low back pain (cLBP). It will examine biomedical mechanisms within a biopsychosocial context by using interdisciplinary methods and exploring innovative technologies.
The BACPAC Research Program has three main goals:
1. Develop a state-of-the-art model for cLBP.
Based on the current state of knowledge, this model will integrate biological, biomechanical, psychosocial, and other processes; test and re-test the implied relationships between those factors and cLBP; and adapt using data generated by or available to BACPAC.
2. Identify factors that are predictive of treatment effectiveness for well-defined patient subpopulations.
BACPAC will identify and test treatments targeting specific pathways implied by the theoretical model using data generated by BACPAC or existing datasets, conduct studies to elucidate interventional phenotypes, and test novel interventions and phenotyping approaches.
3. Conduct a large-scale collaborative clinical study (CCS) through which the consortium will develop an algorithm for multi-modal interventions for individuals with different cLBP phenotypes.
Incorporating research from BACPAC, HEAL, and other studies, the CCS will address novel questions regarding phenotypic factors influencing treatment effectiveness and define optimal treatment strategies for patients based on phenotypic characterization and intervention sequence or bundling.
A BACPAC Stakeholder Board composed of patients, providers, professional societies, payors, and industry, federal, and government-sponsored organizations provides ongoing feedback about the development and implementation of the CCS.
Contact
Current Trials
The Biomarkers for Evaluating Spine Treatments (BEST) clinical trial, part of the BACPAC Research program, aims to find links between a broad range of personal traits, known as biomarkers, and the effectiveness of four existing, proven treatments for chronic lower back pain – which can help doctors make better, more personalized treatment recommendations in the future. Participants receive one to two of these treatments, which include: acceptance and commitment therapy; duloxetine; enhanced self-care; and evidence-based exercise and manual therapy.
The BEST study is taking place in clinical sites across the United States and is using a precision medicine approach to help researchers learn the best treatment for patients with particular biomarkers. Precision medicine aims to understand how a person’s genetics, environment, and lifestyle can help determine the best approach to prevent or treat disease. To learn more about the study, please visit the BEST webpage.
Upcoming Events
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