David M. Klyne PhD, MSc (MolBiol), DPhty, BAppSc) is a Fulbright Scholar and Research Fellow within the Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health. There he leads an international team of researchers that probe the bio-psycho-social mechanisms that underlie pain and the transition to chronicity. His niche is in understanding the neuro-immune pathways involved and how they can be targeted with interventions using a blend of basic and clinical sciences and his skills and knowledge gained through his four degrees – neuro-immunology (PhD), molecular biology (Master), physiotherapy (Doctorate) and applied sciences (Bachelor).
David has received numerous national and international research awards that span basic and clinical sciences. These include the premier international award for spine research (ISSLS Prize) on two occasions – in Basic Science (2019) and Clinical Science (2018). In 2019, he was awarded a postdoctoral Fulbright Fellowship to continue his work elucidating the role of sleep in chronic pain at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine (Temple University), in the USA. He was also one of ten Australian scientists to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in 2019, and has received more than $90K in research prize money and $11.5 million in research funding.
Journal Article: Genetic impact of blood C-reactive protein levels on chronic spinal & widespread pain
Farrell, Scott F., Sterling, Michele, Klyne, David M., Mustafa, Sanam, Campos, Adrián I., Kho, Pik-Fang, Lundberg, Mischa, Rentería, Miguel E., Ngo, Trung Thanh and Cuéllar-Partida, Gabriel (2023). Genetic impact of blood C-reactive protein levels on chronic spinal & widespread pain. European Spine Journal, 1-8. doi: 10.1007/s00586-023-07711-7
Journal Article: How do nonsurgical interventions improve pain and physical function in people with osteoarthritis? A scoping review of mediation analysis studies
Lima, Yuri Lopes, Lee, Hopin, Klyne, David M., Dobson, Fiona L., Hinman, Rana S., Bennell, Kim L. and Hall, Michelle (2023). How do nonsurgical interventions improve pain and physical function in people with osteoarthritis? A scoping review of mediation analysis studies. Arthritis Care and Research, 75 (3), 467-481. doi: 10.1002/acr.24983
Journal Article: Neurobiology Of Osteoarthritis - A Systematic Review And Activation Likelihood Estimation Meta-Analysis
Hall, M., Dobson, F., Klyne, D., Zheng, C., Lima, Y. and Egorova-Brumley, N. (2023). Neurobiology Of Osteoarthritis - A Systematic Review And Activation Likelihood Estimation Meta-Analysis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 31, S380. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2023.01.431
PRioRTI: PReventing chronic pain after whiplash Road Traffic Injury
(2023–2028) NHMRC MRFF CTA - Clinical Trials Activity
What causes low back pain to flare: Has a major opportunity to understand back pain been missed?
(2022–2027) United States National Institutes of Health
(2021–2026) Temple University
Relationship between motor control of the trunk and recurrence/persistence of low back pain
Doctor Philosophy
Disentangling the relationship between sleep and pain
We are seeking PhD students with a background in biomedical and/or rehabilitative sciences to join our team to contribute to a body of work that aims to identify if and how sleep influences pain. Projects will involve the measurement and analysis of sleep in the “real world” to understand how daily variations in sleep – one of the most important, yet modifiable health behaviors – drive the day-to-day “waxing and waning” of back pain. The work will involve a multidisciplinary team to address this challenging issue.
Essential criteria: An undergraduate degree with first or second class division 1 Honours in biomedical science, physiotherapy or a related discipline; eligibility for admission to the PhD program at The University of Queensland; knowledge of pain physiology; experience with statistical programs for data analysis; excellent communication skills (written and verbal) in English.
Genetic impact of blood C-reactive protein levels on chronic spinal & widespread pain
Farrell, Scott F., Sterling, Michele, Klyne, David M., Mustafa, Sanam, Campos, Adrián I., Kho, Pik-Fang, Lundberg, Mischa, Rentería, Miguel E., Ngo, Trung Thanh and Cuéllar-Partida, Gabriel (2023). Genetic impact of blood C-reactive protein levels on chronic spinal & widespread pain. European Spine Journal, 1-8. doi: 10.1007/s00586-023-07711-7
Lima, Yuri Lopes, Lee, Hopin, Klyne, David M., Dobson, Fiona L., Hinman, Rana S., Bennell, Kim L. and Hall, Michelle (2023). How do nonsurgical interventions improve pain and physical function in people with osteoarthritis? A scoping review of mediation analysis studies. Arthritis Care and Research, 75 (3), 467-481. doi: 10.1002/acr.24983
Hall, M., Dobson, F., Klyne, D., Zheng, C., Lima, Y. and Egorova-Brumley, N. (2023). Neurobiology Of Osteoarthritis - A Systematic Review And Activation Likelihood Estimation Meta-Analysis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 31, S380. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2023.01.431
Plinsinga, Melanie Louise, Vuvan, Viana, Maclachlan, Liam, Klyne, David, Graven-Nielsen, Thomas, Vicenzino, Bill, Hodges, Paul and Bjarke Vaegter, Henrik (2023). Pain-related cognitions and emotional distress are not associated with conditioned pain modulation: an explorative analysis of 1142 participants with acute, subacute, and chronic pain. Pain. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002864
Hall, Michelle, Allison, Kim, Hinman, Rana S., Bennell, Kim L., Spiers, Libby, Knox, Gabrielle, Plinsinga, Melanie, Klyne, David M., McManus, Fiona, Lamb, Karen E., Da Costa, Ricardo, Murphy, Nicholas J. and Dobson, Fiona L. (2022). Effects of adding aerobic physical activity to strengthening exercise on hip osteoarthritis symptoms: protocol for the PHOENIX randomised controlled trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 23 (1) 361. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05282-0
Balance control in unstable sitting in individuals with an acute episode of low back pain
van den Hoorn, Wolbert, Meroni, Roberto, Klyne, David M., Alshehri, Mansour Abdullah and Hodges, Paul W. (2022). Balance control in unstable sitting in individuals with an acute episode of low back pain. Gait and Posture, 95, 15-21. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.03.014
Alshehri, Mansour Abdullah, van den Hoorn, Wolbert, Klyne, David M. and Hodges, Paul W. (2022). Postural control of the trunk in individuals with and without low back pain during unstable sitting: A protocol for a systematic review with an individual participant data meta-analysis. PLoS One, 17 (5) e0268381, 1-14. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268381
Risk factors for low back pain outcome: Does it matter when they are measured?
Klyne, David Murray, Hall, Leanne Marie, Nicholas, Michael K. and Hodges, Paul William (2022). Risk factors for low back pain outcome: Does it matter when they are measured?. European Journal of Pain, 26 (4), 835-854. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1911
Klyne, David M., Barbe, Mary F. and Hodges, Paul W. (2022). Relationship between systemic inflammation and recovery over 12 months after an acute episode of low back pain. The Spine Journal, 22 (2), 214-225. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2021.09.006
Klyne, David M., Barbe, Mary F., James, Greg and Hodges, Paul W. (2021). Does the interaction between local and systemic inflammation provide a link from psychology and lifestyle to tissue health in musculoskeletal conditions?. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22 (14) 7299, 1-21. doi: 10.3390/ijms22147299
Alshehri, Mansour Abdullah, van den Hoorn, Wolbert, Klyne, David M. and Hodges, Paul W. (2021). Coordination of hip and spine to maintain equilibrium in unstable sitting revealed by spectral analysis. Journal of Neurophysiology, 125 (5), 1814-1824. doi: 10.1152/jn.00555.2020
Cohort profile: why do people keep hurting their back?
Klyne, David M., van den Hoorn, Wolbert, Barbe, Mary F., Cholewicki, Jacek, M. Hall, Leanne, Khan, Asaduzzaman, Meroni, Roberto, Moseley, G. Lorimer, Nicholas, Michael, O’Sullivan, Lee, Park, Rachel, Russell, Glen, Sterling, Michele and Hodges, Paul W. (2020). Cohort profile: why do people keep hurting their back?. BMC Research Notes, 13 (1) 538, 538. doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05356-z
Trunk stiffness decreases and trunk damping increases with experimental low back pain
van den Hoorn, Wolbert, Cholewicki, Jacek, Coppieters, Michel W., Klyne, David M. and Hodges, Paul W. (2020). Trunk stiffness decreases and trunk damping increases with experimental low back pain. Journal of Biomechanics, 112 110053, 110053. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.110053
Barbe, Mary F., Hilliard, Brendan A., Amin, Mamta, Harris, Michele Y., Hobson, Lucas J., Cruz, Geneva E., Dorotan, Jocelynne T., Paul, Ryan W., Klyne, David M. and Popoff, Steven N. (2020). Blocking CTGF/CCN2 reverses neural fibrosis and sensorimotor declines in a rat model of overuse-induced median mononeuropathy. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 38 (11) jor.24709, 2396-2408. doi: 10.1002/jor.24709
Circulating adipokines in predicting the transition from acute to persistent low back pain
Klyne, David M. and Hodges, Paul W. (2020). Circulating adipokines in predicting the transition from acute to persistent low back pain. Pain Medicine, 21 (11), 2975-2985. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa052
Smith, Tianqi Tenchi Gao, Barr-Gillespie, Ann E, Klyne, David M, Harris, Michelle Y, Amin, Mamta, Paul, Ryan W, Cruz, Geneva E, Zhao, Huaqing, Gallagher, Sean and Barbe, Mary F (2020). Forced treadmill running reduces systemic inflammation yet worsens upper limb discomfort in a rat model of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 21 (1) 57, 57. doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-3085-z
Klyne, David M. and Hodges, Paul W. (2019). Letter to the editor concerning “Multiple confounders influence the association between low-grade systemic inflammation and musculoskeletal pain. A call for a prudent interpretation of the literature” by Schipholt et al. Spine Journal, 19 (11), 1899-1900. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2019.06.011
Are signs of central sensitisation in acute low back pain a precursor to poor outcome?
Klyne, David M., Moseley, G. Lorimer, Sterling, Michele, Barbe, Mary F. and Hodges, Paul W. (2019). Are signs of central sensitisation in acute low back pain a precursor to poor outcome?. The Journal of Pain, 20 (8), 994-1009. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.03.001
James, G., Klyne, D. M., Millecamps, M., Stone, L. S. and Hodges, P. W. (2019). ISSLS Prize in Basic science 2019: physical activity attenuates fibrotic alterations to the multifidus muscle associated with intervertebral disc degeneration. European Spine Journal, 28 (5), 893-904. doi: 10.1007/s00586-019-05902-9
Klyne, David M., Moseley, G. Lorimer, Sterling, Michele, Barbe, Mary F. and Hodges, Paul W. (2018). Individual variation in pain sensitivity and conditioned pain modulation in acute low back pain: impact of stimulus type, sleep, psychological and lifestyle factors. The Journal of Pain, 19 (8), 942.e1-942.e18. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2018.02.017
Klyne, David M., Barbe, Mary F, van den Hoorn, Wolbert and Hodges, Paul W. (2018). ISSLS Prize in clinical science 2018: Longitudinal analysis of inflammatory, psychological, and sleep-related factors following an acute low back pain episode-the good, the bad, and the ugly. European Spine Journal, 27 (4), 763-777. doi: 10.1007/s00586-018-5490-7
Klyne, David M., Barbe, Mary F. and Hodges, Paul W. (2017). Systemic inflammatory profiles and their relationships with demographic, behavioural and clinical features in acute low back pain. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 60, 84-92. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2016.10.003
Effect of types and anatomical arrangement of painful stimuli on conditioned pain modulation
Klyne, David M., Schmid, Annina B., Moseley, G. Lorimer, Sterling, Michele and Hodges Paul W. (2015). Effect of types and anatomical arrangement of painful stimuli on conditioned pain modulation. Journal of Pain, 16 (2), 176-185. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2014.11.005
Klyne, David M., Keays, Susan L., Bullock-Saxton, Joanne E. and Newcombe, Peter A. (2012). The effect of anterior cruciate ligament rupture on the timing and amplitude of gastrocnemius muscle activation: A study of alterations in EMG measures and their relationship to knee joint stability. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 22 (3), 446-455. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.01.013
Uncovering the role of sleep and exercise in the transition from acute to persistent pain
Klyne, D.M., Hilliard, B., Harris, M., Amin, M., Testa, C., Hobson, L., Cruz, G., Hodges, P.W. and Barbe, M.F. (2021). Uncovering the role of sleep and exercise in the transition from acute to persistent pain. Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society's 27th Annual Meeting, Online, 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.08.099
Klyne, D. M. (2019). Longitudinal analysis of inflammatory, psychological, and sleep-related factors following an acute low back pain episode—the good, the bad, and the ugly. PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society's 25th Annual Scientific Meeting, Miami Beach, FL, United States, 6-9 June 2018. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.11.244
Klyne, David, Barbe, Mary, Van Den Hoorn, Wolbert and Hodges, Paul (2018). Longitudinal analysis of inflammatory, psychological, and sleep-related factors following an acute low back pain episode: a potential factor in tissue effects in low back pain. 5th International Fascia Research Congress, Berlin, Germany, 14-15 November 2018. Oxford, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2018.09.056
Alshehri, Mansour Abdullah , van den Hoorn, Wolbert, Klyne, David M. and Hodges, Paul W. (2021). Supplemental Data for "Coordination of hip and spine to maintain equilibrium in unstable sitting revealed by spectral analysis" paper. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/c3f49b3
Biological factors in the transition from acute to persistent low back pain
Klyne, David Murray (2018). Biological factors in the transition from acute to persistent low back pain. PhD Thesis, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2018.468
PRioRTI: PReventing chronic pain after whiplash Road Traffic Injury
(2023–2028) NHMRC MRFF CTA - Clinical Trials Activity
What causes low back pain to flare: Has a major opportunity to understand back pain been missed?
(2022–2027) United States National Institutes of Health
(2021–2026) Temple University
Understanding Acute to Chronic Back Pain Pathways and Testing New Solutions
(2020–2023) United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs - Chronic Pain Management Research Program
Relationship between motor control of the trunk and recurrence/persistence of low back pain
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
Disentangling the relationship between sleep and pain
We are seeking PhD students with a background in biomedical and/or rehabilitative sciences to join our team to contribute to a body of work that aims to identify if and how sleep influences pain. Projects will involve the measurement and analysis of sleep in the “real world” to understand how daily variations in sleep – one of the most important, yet modifiable health behaviors – drive the day-to-day “waxing and waning” of back pain. The work will involve a multidisciplinary team to address this challenging issue.
Essential criteria: An undergraduate degree with first or second class division 1 Honours in biomedical science, physiotherapy or a related discipline; eligibility for admission to the PhD program at The University of Queensland; knowledge of pain physiology; experience with statistical programs for data analysis; excellent communication skills (written and verbal) in English.