๐Ÿ›๏ธ Verified NIH Record โ€ข Updated 2026-06-11

ARPA-H Smart Band-Aid to Measure Chronic Pain in Women (NCT06994988)

Multi-modal Smart Band-Aid for AI-based Quantification of Pain

๐ŸŸข Recruiting Interventional Protocol ๐Ÿ“Š Observational Clinical Research Sponsor: Northwestern University

๐Ÿฉบ Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)

The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether a minimally invasive microneedle patch, called the A-Band (Smart Band-aid), worn on the arm (monitoring key biomarkers in interstitial fluid) and a commercial smartwatch can accurately correlate with self-reported pain in women with chronic pain. A secondary purpose of the study is to identify demographic and clinical variables impacting pain measurement. The main questions that this study aims to answer are: * What is the correlation between AI-adjusted pain scores, based on biomarkers and validated tools, and self-reported pain scores? * What influence do demographic and clinical information have in the correlation of these pain scores? Researchers will compare data from these tools with self-reported pain scores in women with chronic pain and healthy women. Participants will: * Be a part of the study for approximately 8 days * Attend 2-3 in-person visits at the applicable clinical center over approximately one week * Wear a Smart Band-Aid (A-Band) at least twice per day for a week, with each application lasting up to 90 minutes * Complete questionnaires regarding medical history, pain information, mental health, sleep, and demographic data * Record daily pain scores * Wear a smartwatch for one week which will collect biophysical data (heart rate, skin response, etc.) * Collect daily saliva samples * Have blood drawn by medical staff at 2 in-person visits

Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.

Location: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine โ€” Chicago, Illinois

Age range: 18 Years

๐Ÿ“‹ "Do I Qualify?" โ€” 1-Minute Self Screener

Instant Checklist

Full eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria โ†—

๐Ÿ“ All Participating Trial Locations (2 Sites)

  • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine โ€” Chicago, Illinois
  • Walter Reed National Military Medical Center โ€” Bethesda, Maryland

๐Ÿ“ž Contact the Study Coordinator

Phone: (312) 695-0915

Email: jordan.wood1@northwestern.edu

Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.

๐Ÿ’ฐ Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights

  • 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
  • Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA ยง 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
  • Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

Explore by condition: All Chronic Pain clinical trials

๐Ÿ’ก How to Participate

  1. Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
  2. Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
  3. Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
  4. Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.
๐Ÿ›๏ธ View Official NIH Record โ†—