Overview
Research happening at Logan University is showcased here, introducing faculty researchers advancing evidence-informed care. It's useful for students interested in participating in or learning from ongoing studies during their program. Explore the featured researchers and event details to see where Logan's research is headed.
As a premier health sciences university, Logan's mission and curriculum are grounded in evidence-informed, outcome-based research and scholarship. Our faculty participate in research activity throughout the year — from reviewing new scientific literature to producing new evidence through their own studies. Faculty present their work locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, and serve as peer reviewers for medical journals.
- 1 hour — Free CE credit available at the Howe Oration lecture
- 18th — Year of the Joseph W. Howe Oration in Diagnostic Imaging
Faculty Publications
Logan University supports faculty and staff in conducting rigorous scientific research — clinical, basic science, educational, and more — that supports public health care by investigating the applications and outcomes of chiropractic care, promoting community wellness and quality of life, and developing research partners through collaboration and practice-based research networks.
Barriers and facilitators to self-management in people with back-related leg pain: a qualitative secondary analysis — Back-related leg pain (BRLP) is a problematic subset of low back pain, leading to greater pain, loss of function, and higher health care costs. This study identifies barriers and facilitators to self-management for people experiencing BRLP, informing future theory-driven self-management interventions. Read the study
Factors that contribute to the perceived treatment effect of spinal manipulative therapy in a chiropractic teaching clinic: a qualitative study — This study explores the perceptions of chiropractic clinicians, interns, and patients about what factors during a doctor-patient encounter contribute to the perceived treatment effect of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). Read the study
Presentations & Visiting Scholars
The Logan University Visiting Scholars Program hosts research seminars presented by eminent clinical and scientific scholars from institutions around the U.S., including the NIH, Harvard Medical School, and Stanford University School of Medicine. Logan also highlights student presentations and discussions.
18th Annual Joseph W. Howe Oration in Diagnostic Imaging
In honor of Joseph William Howe, DC, DACBR, FICC, Fellow, ACCR (May 27, 1930 – October 21, 2022).
The 18th Oration — Friday, October 10, 2025
Held in classroom G-134 on Logan's campus and live-streamed. The 19th Annual Howe Oration will be announced here.
The 18th Orator was Vitaly Napadow, PhD, LAc, Professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Schoen and Adams Discovery Center for Chronic Pain Recovery at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and the Center for Integrative Pain Neuroimaging (CiPNI) at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital. His lab applies human functional and structural neuroimaging to localize and suggest mechanisms by which different brain circuitries modulate pain perception, and his research also examines how non-pharmacological therapies — from acupuncture and transcutaneous neuromodulation to cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness meditation — ease pain. Dr. Napadow has more than 250 publications in leading peer-reviewed journals, is past-President of the Society for Acupuncture Research, and was a founding member of the US Association for the Study of Pain (USASP). He is a graduate of the New England School of Acupuncture. His lecture is titled "Brain-to-Brain Hyperscanning: Neuroimaging patient/clinician therapeutic alliance."
One hour of free CE is available for those attending in person or via live-stream, sponsored by Logan University Research and the Department of Continuing Education. Advance registration is required to receive CE credit. Online attendees will receive a webinar link within 24 hours of the event at the email provided during registration.
Logan University Research Scholars
Since launching in May 2023, Logan's scholarship pin program has honored faculty who advance the science of health through peer-reviewed publications and presentations.
Recent Scholars
Dr. Elise Hewitt — Workshop, "Evidence-based Musculoskeletal Care for Pediatric Health Conditions," 17th World Federation of Chiropractic's Biennial Congress, Gold Coast, Australia, October 11–14, 2023
Dr. Patrick Montgomery — Platform Presentation, "Expansion and Community Awareness: The Impact of Dr. George A. Goodman and Logan College," Association for the History of Chiropractic 43rd Annual Conference, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Port Orange, FL, June 15, 2024
Dr. Dingbo Shi — Received his blue Logan Research Scholarship Pin in May 2023; published Shi D, Billham JF, Battaglia PJ, Specht TJ, Davenport JA, Kettner NW: "Ultrasonography in diagnosis of distal biceps tendinosis: A case series," Ultrasound, March 2024. DOI: 10.1177/1742271X241234007
Dr. Huxlande Petigny — Poster Presentation, "Proximal median nerve schwannoma sonographic findings: A case report," ACCRAC 2024, 30th Annual Educational & Research Agenda Conference, San Diego, CA, March 21–23, 2024
Dr. Kristina Petrocco-Napuli — Workshop, "Chiropractic Approaches to Women's Health and Well-being," 17th World Federation of Chiropractic's Biennial Congress, Gold Coast, Australia, October 11–14, 2023
Guidelines for Scholarship Pins
Recipients are first authors of peer-reviewed publications, or first authors of posters, platforms, or workshops presented at a peer-reviewed conference.
| Pin | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Blue | First peer-reviewed paper/abstract accepted to a conference or journal |
| Bronze | Fifth peer-reviewed paper/abstract accepted to a conference or journal |
| Silver | Tenth peer-reviewed paper/abstract accepted, including at least one journal publication |
| Gold | 25th peer-reviewed paper/abstract accepted to a conference or journal |
ACC-RAC Conference
The Association of Chiropractic Colleges is a leadership organization of chiropractic educational programs in the United States and Canada that advances excellence in education by supporting a collaborative academic community and student learning, research, and evidence-informed practice.
Logan faculty, residents, staff and students have presented their work at ACC-RAC, the association's annual Educational & Research Agenda Conference. The ACC posts each year's conference dates and call for abstracts on its own site.
Research Compliance & Support
CITI Program — The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative serves the training needs of colleges, universities, health care institutions, and research organizations, fostering integrity and professional advancement. Learn More | Download CITI Training Course List
Institutional Review Board (IRB) — The IRB protects persons participating in research by reviewing and approving any project or experiment involving human subjects conducted by Logan University faculty, students, staff, clinic personnel, or administrators, or that uses university resources, facilities, or equipment. Reviews follow the Code of Federal Regulations 45 CFR 46, the National Research Act, the Declaration of Helsinki, and the Nuremberg Code.
IRB Resources
- IRB Proposal Section I (Word Document)
- IRB Proposal Section II (Word Document)
- Guide to Writing a Consent Form
- Informed Consent Template (Word Document)
Publishing Resources
Publishing a Case Report — Guidance from Norman W. Kettner, DC, DACBR, DCBCN, FICC, Chair, Department of Radiology, Logan Health Center. Download PowerPoint
Elsevier Guide for Authors — View the guide
Research Policies and Procedures — Download the manual
Journal of Pain
Both studies use functional MRI to examine how manual therapy affects the brain in chronic low back pain. Norman W. Kettner, DC, of Logan's Department of Radiology co-authored both with researchers at the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital, including Vitaly Napadow, PhD, LAc, Logan's 18th Howe Orator.
Increased Salience Network Connectivity Following Manual Therapy is Associated with Reduced Pain in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients — Isenburg K, Mawla I, Loggia ML, Ellingsen DM, Protsenko E, Kowalski MH, Swensen D, O'Dwyer-Swensen D, Edwards RR, Napadow V, Kettner N. J Pain, May 2021, 22(5):545-555. Read the study
Brain mechanisms of anticipated painful movements and their modulation by manual therapy in chronic low back pain — Ellingsen DM, Napadow V, Protsenko E, Mawla I, Kowalski MH, Swensen D, O'Dwyer-Swensen D, Edwards RR, Kettner N, Loggia ML. J Pain, November 2018, 19(11):1352-1365. Read the study
Contact Us
Learn more about Logan's research program and how to participate by contacting Norman Kettner, DC, DACBR, FICC.