Funded Projects

Project #	Project Title	Research Focus Area	Research Program	Administering IC(s)	Institution(s)	Investigator(s)	Location(s)	Year Awarded
1U18EB030607-01 Show Summary	Non-invasive Nonpharmaceutical Treatment for Neck Pain: Development of Cervical Spine-specific MR-guided Focused Ultrasound System	Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management	Translating Discoveries into Effective Devices to Treat Pain	NINDS	UNIVERSITY OF UTAH	RIEKE, VIOLA	Salt Lake City, UT	2020
FOA Title: HEAL Initiative: Translational Development of Devices to Treat Pain (U18 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) FOA Number: RFA-EB-18-003 Summary: Neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability and also a significant cause of cervicogenic headaches. Many of the currently available neck pain treatments are invasive with associated risks and complications, particularly because of the complex anatomy. Magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound, a novel, completely noninvasive technique, can precisely target spinal facet joints to help ameliorate neck pain, potentially transforming the current practices. The goal of this study is to develop a cervical spine-specific device and demonstrate its safety and efficacy on targeting cervical sensory fibers and the third occipital nerve. The results of these studies will provide an understanding on how to best use this technology for chronic neck pain as well as a basis for translation into human use.