Silchar (Assam) : 18 Dec - 21 Dec 2025
Kankavli (Maharashtra) : 19 Dec - 21 Dec 2025
Research at
The Spine Foundation, Mumbai
Advancing Spine Health Through Equity, Innovation, and Community-Based Research
The Spine Foundation (TSF) leads India’s first comprehensive research initiative focused on investigating the clinical, technological, and socioeconomic factors that influence spine health. Through community-based rehabilitation programs and advanced surgical care, our research strives to improve spine care outcomes, affordability, and accessibility.
TSF integrates clinical research, community health insights, and digital innovation through multidisciplinary and regionally varied studies to create evidence-based, scalable spine care systems across India.
Our Mission
To generate scientific evidence that addresses the gaps in spine care quality, affordability, and accessibility so that every individual, regardless of geography or economic status, can access equitable and effective care.
Our Research Approach
TSF’s research incorporates technology-driven innovation, community-based field research, and clinical investigations.
To enhance outcomes, equity, and the influence of policies on spine health, TSF produces actionable evidence in collaboration with healthcare facilities, Regional Spine Care Centers (RSCCs), academic institutions, and community health organizations.
Vision
The Spine Foundation aspires to create a spine-healthy, affordable, and equitable India through scientific innovation and social commitment, enabling every citizen to live free from preventable disabilities.
Primary Research Themes
1. Community Studies
Focuses on population-based spine health research estimating disease burden, economic impact, treatment-seeking behavior, and socioeconomic determinants of care access.
Current Studies
- Burden and Epidemiology of Pain in Back and Extremities Across Rural and Urban Poor Populations of India: A Multi-Regional Replication of the Gadchiroli Model
Replicates the Gadchiroli Model to estimate prevalence, disability, healthcare-seeking patterns, and economic burden of back and extremity pain across North, East, South, and West India. - Spine Screening for Red-Flag Detection and Economic burden of Pain in Back and Extremities (PBE) in Northeast India
To identify prevalence, red-flag indicators, economic burden and access barriers for pain in Back and Extremities in Northeast India. - Willingness to Pay and Barriers to Surgery in Eligible Spine Patients
Evaluates reasons for non-adherence to advised surgery, economic constraints, and willingness-to-pay among diagnosed but untreated patients. - Barriers and Facilitators Influencing Surgical Decision-Making Among Diagnosed Spine Surgery Patients
Studies psychosocial and financial factors shaping patients’ surgical choices. - Long-term Spine Health Outcomes in Community Cohort
Follows rural and tribal populations to evaluate recurrence, disability and long-term impact of TSF’s spine health interventions.
2. Diagnostic Accuracy Studies
Evaluating the reliability of ‘red flag’ indicators and diagnostic tools used in rural and clinical settings for early identification of spine disorders.
Current Studies
- Proportion of Genuine Red-Flag Cases Among Screened Spine Patients: A Validation Study
Quantifies the proportion of true-positive red-flag cases identified during TSF’s community screening that are confirmed as genuine surgical spine pathologies upon diagnostic evaluation. The study aims to validate the accuracy and predictive yield of red-flag-based triage in rural and outreach settings - Comparative Accuracy of Community and Clinical Red Flags as Decision Aids for Spine Diagnosis
Compares diagnostic performance of red flags across different care levels. - Cost-Effectiveness of TSF’s Red Flag Model
Evaluates the economic value of early screening in preventing advanced spine morbidity.
3. Implementation and Health Systems Research
Evaluating TSF’s models of care, operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and patient satisfaction to guide scalable implementation.
Current Studies
- TSF Implementation Model
Describes the operational framework of TSF’s decentralized spine care model and evaluates its scalability across India. - Social Return on Investments (SROI) of TSF Interventions
Estimates the social and economic value generated by TSF’s community care and rehabilitation programs. - Scoring and Grading of RSCC Centers
Develops a standardized rating system for evaluating performance, quality, and sustainability of Regional Spine Care Centers, including SWOT-based assessments. - Assessing Socio-Economic grading of surgical Patients for Segregating Poor and Non-Poor
Develops socioeconomic scoring criteria to guide subsidy eligibility and refine patient targeting. - Patient Experience and Satisfaction in Spine Surgery (PEC-SS Index Study)
Assesses patient satisfaction and experience following spine surgery using the Patient Experience of Care in Spine Surgery (PEC-SS) Index, and examines correlations between patient-reported outcomes (VAS, M-ODI) and satisfaction levels at 12-month follow-up. - Perceptions of Healthcare Workers on the Implementation of Telemedicine in Spine OPDs: A Qualitative Study
Explores the experiences, attitudes and perceived challenges of healthcare workers regarding the implementation of telemedicine services in TSF’s spine outpatient departments.
4. Clinical Outcomes Research
Investigates postoperative results, complications, and functional outcomes following spine surgery, and evaluates patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
Current Studies
- Clinico-epidemiological Study of Patients Undergoing Lumbar Canal Stenosis (Lumbar Decompression, Discectomy, Fixation) Surgery: The Health Equity in Spine Surgery Study (2009–2021)
Evaluates 12-month postoperative outcomes across urban-poor, urban-rich, and rural-poor populations in India. - Health Equity in Spine Surgery – Phase II (2020–2024)
Extends the above cohort to newer cases, comparing trends in access, recovery, and outcome patterns over time. - Assessing the correlation between Visual Analogue Scale and Post-Operative Modified Oswestry Disability Index improvement in patients with spinal deformity
Examines the relationship between changes in pain intensity (VAS scores) and functional improvement (MODI) following surgical correction of spinal deformities. The study evaluates whether pain reduction reliably reflects functional recovery in operated deformity cases. - Complications (medical, wound) including co-morbidity (DM, COPD) and its association with VAS, M-ODI, Claudication Time
Identifies predictors of postoperative wound/medical complications, including co-morbidities and their association with VAS, M-ODI, Claudication Time - Barriers and Facilitators to Follow-up PROMs in Post-Surgical Patients
Examines reasons for loss to follow-up and determinants of adherence to postoperative outcome reporting.
5. Rehabilitation Research
Evaluates post-surgical and conservative rehabilitation strategies, focusing on accessibility, adherence, and patient-centered outcomes in low-resource settings.
Current Studies
- Rehabilitation Outcomes Following Lumbar Canal Stenosis Procedure (Health Equity Cohort Extension)
Assesses functional recovery and rehabilitation adherence in surgically treated patients. - Community Rehabilitation for Non-Red Flags & Post-Surgical Patients and Return-to-Work Outcomes Study
Tracks rehabilitation completion rates among non-red flags patients & post-surgical patients and economic reintegration outcomes among rural TSF beneficiaries.
6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
Applies AI and ML technologies for predictive modeling, automated triage, and precision outcome forecasting in spine care.
Current Studies
- Voice-Based Generative AI for Spine Health Screening: Findings from Two Pilot Deployments in Mumbai, India
Evaluates feasibility and usability of AI-generated voice tools for patient triage and health communication. - Expansion of Voice-Based Generative AI across all TSF Centers
Adapts and validates AI screening tool across multiple regional sites.
7. Scoliosis Studies
Focuses on early detection, screening, and management of spinal deformities among children and adolescents such as scoliosis.
Current Studies
- School Scoliosis implementation model
Implements a school-based spine health screening initiative for early identification of spinal deformities in children.
8. Complementary Medicine
Explores integrative and traditional medicine approaches for non-surgical spine disorders through collaborative, evidence-based research.
Current Studies
- Comparative Outcome of Medical Management vs Ayurveda vs Homeopathy
Compares patient outcomes and satisfaction across conventional, Ayurvedic, and homeopathic treatments for spine disorders. - Ayurveda Control Trial for Non-Red-Flag Low-Backache through AYUSH–TSF Collaboration
Evaluates safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic therapies in the management of non-red-flag low-backache compared with conventional care.
9. Ergonomics and Occupational Spine Health
Studies occupational and environmental factors influencing spine health to design preventive, ergonomic, and workplace interventions.
Current Studies
- Ergonomics Research for Prevention of Spine Problems
Investigates ergonomic and occupational risk factors for spine disorders among manual laborers and develops preventive guidelines.
10. Endoscopic Spine Studies
Current Studies
- Comparison between Minimal invasive endoscopic spine surgery outcomes and standard procedure
Compares perioperative outcomes, complication rates, recovery times, and long-term functional results between minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery and conventional open techniques in similar diagnostic categories. The study assesses safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness in TSF settings. - Feasibility of Full Endoscopy Spine Surgery (FESS)
Evaluates the feasibility, safety profile, and early clinical outcomes of Full Endoscopic Spine Surgery (FESS) within TSF’s resource-limited environments. The study explores technical challenges, learning curves, and patient-reported outcomes to inform the scalability of FESS across TSF centers.
Our Research Leadership
Prof. (Dr.) Denny John
Chief Scientific Officer
Guides TSF’s research and innovation strategy, integrating health economics, outcomes research, and implementation science to build scalable, evidence-driven spine-care models across India.
Dr. Vivek Verma
Consultant – Medical Statistics
Leads statistical design and analysis for TSF’s multi-site studies, ensuring data accuracy, robust modelling, and reliable evidence for program and clinical decision-making.
Bhargavi Gongati
Program Coordinator – Research & Community Health
Coordinates field research, data systems, and community-level evaluations, strengthening TSF’s screening workflows and digital tools to support equitable, community-based spine-care delivery.
