NYU Langone Joined Trial for Back Pain Diagnostic
New York City patients can now participate in a study evaluating a new software tool for identifying causes of chronic back pain.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Alzheimer’s
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NYU Langone Health has been added as a site for the ongoing CLARITY trial, which assesses a diagnostic platform designed to pinpoint sources of chronic low back pain. This expansion brings the total number of research locations to eleven for the 300-patient study.
Why it matters
Identifying the specific anatomical source of chronic back pain remains a clinical challenge, and this study aims to validate a tool that could improve diagnostic accuracy for spine surgery candidates. Demonstrating clinical value may eventually help surgeons select procedures that are more effective for patients.
The CLARITY trial is a prospective, randomized study involving 300 patients across eleven clinical sites to assess the Nociscan diagnostic platform. While preliminary reports have noted high surgical success rates for specific identified pain sources, the study is still in progress.
The players
NYU Langone Health
A major academic medical center in New York City that serves over 25,000 spine patients and performs 4,700 surgical procedures annually.
Aclarion
A healthcare technology company based in Broomfield, Colorado, focused on developing diagnostic tools for chronic low back pain.
The details
The Nociscan platform operates as a software-as-a-service tool that utilizes magnetic resonance spectroscopy and augmented intelligence. By connecting to an MRI machine via the cloud, the system employs proprietary signal processing to extract and quantify chemical biomarkers from disc tissue. These biomarkers are intended to help clinicians distinguish which discs are the primary drivers of a patient's chronic pain.
Timeline
September 29, 2026: Aclarion announced the addition of NYU Langone Health to the CLARITY clinical trial network.
Health Landscape
The development follows the expansion of the CLARITY trial to eleven locations nationwide. This reflects a broader push in orthopedic medicine to move beyond standard imaging toward molecular-level diagnostics to address the needs of the 266 million people with degenerative spine disease.
If you are currently managing chronic low back pain, this study highlights the ongoing efforts to improve diagnostic precision before considering surgery. You may want to ask your physician about the current standard of care and whether new diagnostic technologies are available in your area.
The takeaway
Nociscan is currently being evaluated to see if it can improve surgical decision-making by identifying the specific chemical signatures of painful discs. Patients should discuss all available diagnostic options with their spine specialist to understand the most appropriate path for their condition.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Alzheimer’s research and diagnostic tools.
More information
For more information on site locations and study goals, visit the CLARITY trial information and site map.
Live Poll
Do you believe new diagnostic technologies are effectively improving treatment outcomes for chronic pain patients?
