Welcome to the 18th Annual Small Steps to Success Campaign
November 1 - November 30, 2026

Research Priorities Supported by Small Steps

1. Anatometer and Gravity Stress Analyzer Validation

Postural assessment has long been an important part of NUCCA clinical evaluation. UCRF is working to strengthen the scientific foundation of two assessment systems used within the profession:

• The Anatometer, traditionally used to measure pelvic tilt, lower-extremity imbalance, and lateral displacement of C7; and
• The Gravity Stress Analyzer (GSA), which provides multiplane measurements of standing postural asymmetry.

The objective is to determine how consistently these instruments perform when the same examiner repeats measurements and when different examiners do. Establishing reliability is essential. Before postural measurements can be used confidently in clinical research or compared across practices, the profession must demonstrate that the instruments and procedures yield reproducible results.

Investigators:  Drs. Michael Russamano, Allen Harrison, Jason Chesney, Vivek Soham

Your support helps UCRF validate the tools used to measure changes in NUCCA clinical care.
 

2. Radiographic Positioning and the R.A.S. System

Consistent patient positioning is essential to accurate NUCCA radiographic analysis. Even a precise measurement method can be affected when images are not acquired under standardized conditions.

The Radiographic Alignment System (R.A.S.) project examines the agreement and consistency of NUCCA pre- and post-radiographic positioning among doctors with varying levels of training and clinical experience.

The data gathered through this project will help:

• identify sources of positioning variation.
• clarify the importance of training and experience.
• strengthen imaging and quality-assurance procedures.
• support more reproducible pre- and post-correction comparisons; and
• guide future education and certification standards.

A peer-reviewed paper is being developed by Drs. Jaimie Johnson, Gordon Hasick, Craig Lapenski, and David Vazquez to report the findings and their implications for NUCCA’s clinical and research procedures.

Your contribution helps move this work through analysis, publication, and implementation.

3. Optimal Correction, Stability, and Quality of Life

A central question in NUCCA research is what constitutes an optimal correction of the Atlas Subluxation Complex and how that correction affects stability and patient outcomes over time.

This research program examines both measurable structural changes and the patient’s experience after care. Areas of investigation include:

• the magnitude and precision of the initial correction.
• postural and radiographic change following the intervention.
• the ability to maintain the correction over time.
• the need for subsequent intervention.
• changes in function, symptoms, and daily activity; and
• patient-reported quality of life.

The goal is to develop an evidence-informed definition of optimal correction that can be studied, reproduced, taught, and applied consistently. This work may ultimately produce a series of papers addressing the correction itself, longer-term stability, and the relationship between measurable change and patient-centred outcomes.

Investigators:  Dr. Allen Harrison & Dr. Jose Portela

Small Steps funding helps establish clearer clinical benchmarks for NUCCA care and future research.

4. Prevalence of ASC Syndrome in the General Population

How common is the Atlas Subluxation Complex—and its measurable findings—in the general population?

Currently, no sufficiently large and representative study addresses this foundational question. Without prevalence data, it is difficult to estimate the size of the affected population, design larger clinical investigations, or communicate the condition’s potential healthcare significance.

UCRF is developing this study intended to:

• establish a clear, research-ready definition of ASC Syndrome.
• determine appropriate examination and measurement criteria.
• estimate its prevalence within a defined population.
• identify factors that may be associated with its presentation; and
• provide baseline information for future clinical studies.

A carefully designed prevalence study would provide important foundational evidence. It could also support collaboration with universities, epidemiologists, healthcare researchers, and external funding organizations. It may also influence policymakers’ decisions to further include it in our healthcare systems.

Investigators:  Dr. Jose Portela & Dr. Allen Harrison

Your support helps UCRF take this important step toward understanding the broader significance of ASC Syndrome.

5. Building a NUCCA Practice-Based Research Network

UCRF is working toward developing a Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) that connects NUCCA doctors and clinics across North America.

A PBRN enables research questions to be studied within everyday clinical practice. With common definitions, standardized procedures, appropriate ethics oversight, and secure data collection, participating clinics can contribute to larger, more representative studies than any single practice could undertake alone.

A NUCCA PBRN will help:

• collect multicentre clinical data.
• include more diverse doctors and patient populations.
• evaluate outcomes in real-world practice.
• identify meaningful questions arising directly from patient care.
• create a foundation for larger collaborative studies; and
• develop research capacity throughout the profession.

The PBRN has the potential to serve as the infrastructure for many future NUCCA investigations.

Investigators: Drs. Vivek Soham, Allen Harrison, Jose Portela

Small Steps helps transform individual practice experiences into coordinated, publishable research.

6. Student Research Mentoring Scholarships

The future of NUCCA research depends on cultivating new investigators who understand both scientific methodology and the clinical principles of the NUCCA procedure.

Through the UCRF Student Research Scholarship Program, selected chiropractic students are paired with experienced NUCCA doctors and research mentors. Students participate in developing, conducting, presenting, and publishing projects related to NUCCA upper cervical care.

The program provides:

• research mentorship and practical experience.
• exposure to NUCCA standards and procedures.
• opportunities to work with experienced clinicians and investigators.
• support toward presentation and publication; and
• a $1,000 scholarship for each selected student.

The program aims to encourage curiosity, strengthen research literacy, and help prepare future clinicians and investigators to advance NUCCA research.

Your gift helps introduce a new generation of students to NUCCA research, mentorship, and scientific publication.

7. Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow in Migraine

UCRF continues to support the review of imaging and clinical data from research on blood flow, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics, and the currently collected migraine data.

The original pilot investigation brought together NUCCA clinicians and university-based collaborators in neurology, medical imaging, and research methodology. It included advanced phase-contrast MRI measurements alongside established migraine and quality-of-life outcome measures.

The retrospective study and continuing review is intended to:

• examine previously collected blood- and CSF-flow data more fully.
• explore possible relationships between the ASC, physiological measurements and migraine outcomes.
• identify findings that may support additional study.
• support NUCCA practitioners with clinical knowledge translation
• clarify the limitations of the pilot data; and
• determine the most appropriate direction for future investigation and publication.

Although this remains exploratory research that requires further understanding, larger controlled studies and independent replication would be required before drawing conclusions about clinical mechanisms or effects. Nevertheless, the project continues to offer an important opportunity to further investigate questions at the intersection of upper cervical biomechanics of the ASC, neurological function, and migraine.

Investigator: Dr. Gordon Hasick

Small Steps support helps UCRF complete careful analysis and determine the next scientifically responsible step in this research.

NEW

8. Part-Time Research Manager: Building the Capacity to Move Research Forward

UCRF’s research portfolio has grown beyond what volunteers can reasonably coordinate alone. Each project requires regular communication, scheduling, documentation, follow-up with investigators, timeline monitoring, and support through ethics review, data collection, analysis, and publication.

An important goal of this year’s Small Steps campaign is to begin raising funds to hire a part-time research manager. This would be a practical, hands-on coordination role. The research manager would work under the direction of the UCRF Board and alongside project investigators to coordinate the day-to-day progress of UCRF’s research activities.

This support would help keep projects moving, improve accountability, reduce delays, and allow volunteer board members and researchers to focus on the scientific and strategic work that requires their expertise.

Your contribution will help UCRF build the organizational capacity needed to turn promising research priorities into completed and published studies.