# Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation of Dorsal Root Ganglion for Noninvasive Mitigation of Low Back Pain

> **NIH NIH UH3** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2022 · $820,449

## Abstract

Project Summary
The goal of this project is to develop a completely non-invasive, precise and durable treatment option for low
back pain, which is estimated to cost $30 billion in direct health care expenditures annually. Chronic LBP is
often a diagnostic and management challenge due to multiple potential pain sources with both biomechanical
and inflammatory mechanisms. The failure of systemic analgesic drugs, such as opioids, is often due to their
off-target toxicity, development of tolerance, and abuse potential. Interventional pain procedures provide target
specificity but lack long-term efficacy and are associated with procedural risks. Understanding the
supratentorial effects of such treatments may be an important part of developing effective treatment modalities.
Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a lower risk, completely non-invasive modality that enables the delivery of
spatially-confined acoustic energy to a small tissue region (dorsal root ganglion [DRG]) under magnetic
resonance (MR) imaging guidance to treat axial low back pain by neuromodulation.
The central goal of this study is to demonstrate neuromodulation of the DRG with FUS to decrease nerve
conduction, which can be used to attenuate pain sensation. In the first Aim, we will establish
electrophysiologic normative data for detecting changes in pain in neuritis models and normals
measured by EEG and somatosensory evoked potentials. In the second Aim, we will demonstrate FUS
neuromodulation of the DRG in pigs by (a) exploring FUS sonication parameters that results in DRG
neuromodulation as assessed by SEPs during nerve stimulation and (b) evaluating the safety and efficacy of
non-invasive FUS neuromodulation in neuritis pig model and controls by performing longitudinal unique
behavioral assessments, which specifically test behaviors indicative of supraspinal pain sensation. In the third
Aim, we will design and construct an LBP-specific MRgFUS device for rapid translation to patients with
back pain by fully characterizing FUS sonications for DRG neuromodulation using regulatory standards,
constructing an MRI radiofrequency coil and transducer mount to allow targeting of the DRG in humans, and
evaluating the prototype for image and sonication quality.
This exploratory study will demonstrate 1) using FUS on the DRG to interrupt and modulate nerve conduction,
2) using somatosensory evoked potentials to monitor brain changes and unique behavioral assessments in a
pig model after modulating the effect of pain stimuli, 3) the safety of FUS DRG neuromodulation, and 4) a
prototype for human use. Importantly, the low risk associated with FUS neuromodulation, compared to invasive
procedures, will result in rapid clinical translation.
We propose that FUS is a noninvasive modality to treat chronic low back pain with neuromodulation and has
the potential to replace current invasive or systemically detrimental treatment modalities. By demonstrating that
neuromodulation with FUS can alter pain perceptio...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10375977
- **Project number:** 4UH3AR076736-03
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** VIOLA RIEKE
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $820,449
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2019-09-25 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10375977

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10375977, Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation of Dorsal Root Ganglion for Noninvasive Mitigation of Low Back Pain (4UH3AR076736-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10375977. Licensed CC0.

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