# Research and Engagement for Advancing Chronic pain Healthcare Equity (REACH)

> **NIH NIH K23** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $145,748

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This K23 career development award proposal addresses the underutilization of pain psychology, an effective
frontline treatment, among socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals suffering from chronic low back pain
(cLBP). The primary investigator (PI) seeks to bridge this healthcare disparity through a three-fold research
strategy. Aim 1 proposes to investigate the impact of socioeconomic status on pain psychology utilization via a
retrospective cohort analysis. The PI will leverage data from a large, PCORI-funded trial across healthcare
systems in Baltimore, MD, and Salt Lake City, UT. Aim 2 aims to identify the barriers and facilitators to pain
psychology utilization through qualitative interviews with psychologists and patients from a low socioeconomic
stratum. This step will guide the development of the Empowering Pain Psychology Access and Collaboration
(EPPAC) intervention, a patient-centered approach using shared decision-making and motivational
interviewing. Aim 3 pilots the EPPAC intervention among socioeconomically disadvantaged patients with cLBP,
evaluating its acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy compared to a usual care control group.
This K23 career development award proposal is spearheaded by Dr. Fenan Rassu, an Assistant Professor in
the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a clinical researcher at The Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine who is determined to address underutilization of evidence-based pain
psychology treatments among socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals with cLBP.
The proposed career development plan includes didactic and research training activities that will substantially
build his skills and expertise. These will include training in health services research, stakeholder engaged
research and qualitative research methods, and implementation science . This training will occur in the rich
training environment of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, including the Bloomberg School of Public
Health. He will receive guidance from his outstanding team of mentors and advisors with expertise in the
methodologies needed for conducting the planned research, and a track record of mentoring and funding. The
award and protected time will allow Dr. Rassu to build an independent NIH-funded research career and
become a leader in improving access and engagement in evidence-based treatments for vulnerable
populations living with pain.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10865612
- **Project number:** 1K23MD019351-01
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Fenan Rassu
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $145,748
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-03 → 2029-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10865612

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10865612, Research and Engagement for Advancing Chronic pain Healthcare Equity (REACH) (1K23MD019351-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10865612. Licensed CC0.

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