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Note: This study is currently only recruiting patients in the hospital.

If you are interested in being notified if this study begins recruiting from the general population, please use the 'I Am Interested' button below.

Do you have lower back pain? Study evaluating a new treatment is now enrolling!

This study will evaluate whether an antibiotic (minocycline) can reduce low back pain. We will use imaging techniques to look at the role of the brain's immune response in chronic pain and evaluate if the antibiotic reduces this response.

3 visits
Estimated Time Commitment
Any Sex/Gender, 18-75 years
May Be Eligible
Payment up to $736
May Be Offered
Medication, Blood draw, Office visit, MRI scan, PET scan, Survey
May Be Required
 
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This project is not recruiting.

What we are studying

Our goal is to identify whether immune cells in the nervous system (glia) are more active in the brains and spinal cords of individuals with low back pain.  We are also looking to find out whether minocycline, a commonly used antibiotic, may help reduce glial activation and pain intensity in people with low back pain. 


Why it is important

Currently, there are no biomarkers that can identify when someone is experiencing pain, and available treatments are insufficient and have significant side effects. If glial cells are consistently more active in people who are experiencing pain, then this may help to identify pain biomarkers. In addition, if minocycline can reduce glial activation, and therefore pain intensity, this may provide an important alternative to opioid therapies or more invasive pain management procedures.


What we hope to accomplish

Using simultaneous Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning, we will evaluate the role of inflammation in low back pain. In doing so, we hope that this trial may help provide a better understanding of some of the biological mechanisms underlying chronic low back pain. We also hope that this trial may help to provide non-opioid alternatives to pain treatment.

Principal Investigator

Marco L Loggia, PhD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Public Profile

Adults who have been experiencing low back pain. Medical records supporting the diagnosis of low back pain will be required to participate.


Drug testing is performed at all study visits.

Participants will be asked to come in for an initial 2-hour screening visit. If you are eligible following this initial visit, you will be invited for a brain imaging visit. Then, you may be randomly assigned to receive either the antibiotic (minocycline) or placebo. While enrolled in the treatment phase of the study, participants will be sent email surveys to evaluate the progression of their low back pain during the study period. Following the treatment or evaluation period, participants will be asked to come in for a follow-up brain imaging or clinic visit.


Project activities may include:

  • Medication
  • Blood draw
  • Office visit
  • MRI scan
  • PET scan
  • Survey

Estimated Time Commitment

3 visits


Participants will receive no direct benefit from this study. However, we hope that this will improve the understanding and future treatment for those with low back pain.


Participants will be compensated for their time.

Massachusetts General Hospital East
149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, MA 02129

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Travel

  • Accessible by public transportation
  • Parking available
  • Parking reimbursed

Travel and Parking Details


ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier

NCT03106740


Study Phase

Phase 2: This project studies whether a medication or treatment works for people with a specific disease or condition. The drug or treatment has been studied for safety in healthy volunteers, but the project will continue to look at safety and short term side effects.


Participating Institutions


Funding Source

  • NIH or Other Federal
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