Trans-disciplinary Phenotyping for Low Back Pain

Thursday, February 19, 2026

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM AST

Location: 201 AB

Course Director(s)

Gwendolyn A. Sowa, MD, PhD

Professor and Chair
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, UPMC

Speaker(s)

Nam Vo, PhD (he/him/his)

Professor and Deputy Vice Chair for Research
University of Pittsburgh Department of Orthopaedics
Gina P. McKernan, PhD

Assistant Professor and Vice Chair for Data Science and Rehabilitation Analytics
University of Pittsburgh Department of PM&R
Carol M. Greco, PhD (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor
University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry
Michael J. Schneider, DC, PhD (he/him/his)

Professor and Director
University of Pittsburgh, Doctor of Chiropractic Program

Brief Session Description : An unprecedented dataset of characteristic features of persons with chronic low back pain has been collected from 1000 participants under the NIH HEAL initiative. The approach included assessment of known factors contributing to cLBP as well as collection of broad unbiased data to facilitate identification of novel features relevant to the experience of cLBP. Together, these measurements, led by domain experts in their respective fields, have evolved the understanding of the contributors to the experience of cLBP. Moreover, collection of biological, biomechanical, and behavioral characteristics within the same participants has facilitated novel phenotyping strategies to facilicate future tailoring of treatments.