About

Jason Taylor is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Utah’s College of Education. His scholarship focuses on how higher education and community college policies and practices influence college access and student success, especially for students from underserved backgrounds. As a first-generation college graduate, he has led research on various topics including college readiness, developmental education, affordability, adult pathways to college, dual enrollment, transfer policy, LGBTQ student experiences, and career and technical education. His work has been supported by more than $1 million in external funding and published in leading journals and policy reports. Taylor has played a significant leadership role in the field of community college research. He served as the President-Elect of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC), a scholarly association affiliated with the American Association of Community Colleges, and has helped plan the organization’s annual conference. In 2026, he will serve as the President of CSCC, leading the organization in a one-year term. His leadership has contributed to shaping a national event that brings together community college researchers to share scholarship and ideas about the future of two-year institutions. His work and leadership underscore the University of Utah’s visibility in national conversations about the value and versatility of community colleges.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Psychology
• Internal medicine
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Physical therapy

Selected publications

• Cuff algometry induces large yet variable conditioned pain modulation effects

  PAIN Reports · 2026-03-19

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract Introduction: Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigms provide a proxy measure of activity in the descending pain modulatory system. Cuff-pressure algometry offers a standardised CPM assessment tool although comprehensive validation in large samples is lacking. Objective: To characterise cuff-pressure-algometry assessed CPM and its test-retest reliability in a large healthy control sample. Methods: Cuff-algometry CPM data from 324 healthy participants across 8 studies were pooled. Conditioned pain modulation magnitude was calculated as pain detection threshold (PDT) and pain tolerance threshold (PTT) changes, assessed on the dominant leg in the presence and absence of a painful “conditioning” cuff stimulus on the contralateral leg. Results: Conditioned pain modulation effects were robust for both changes in PDT and PTT ( P < 0.001). Using a classification approach where a ≥20% change in threshold designated a CPM responder, 69% of participants were CPM responders for PDT and 59% for PTT. Test–retest reliability data were assessed in a subset of participants (n = 72; interval 16.49 ± 18.39 days) using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Test–retest reliability was poor for CPM effects (ICC = 0.25-0.37) despite moderate -to- good reliability for PDT and PTT (ICC = 0.69-0.87). Responder classification showed none -to- minimal agreement across sessions (Cohen κ = 0.17-0.21), with 38% of participants switching classification for both PDT and PTT. Bootstrap analysis revealed that smaller samples provide highly variable ICC estimates, potentially explaining discrepancies with previous reliability reports. Conclusion: Despite producing large group-level CPM effects, poor test–retest reliability of cuff algometry suggests that it captures dynamic, state-dependent processes, which obscure any underlying stable trait-like individual characteristic. This highlights the need to consider the temporal instability of CPM when interpreting data and considering its deployment within precision pain medicine.

  PublisherDOI

• Cuff Algometry Induces Large Yet Variable Conditioned Pain Modulation Effects

  medRxiv · 2025-10-07

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigms provide a proxy measure of activity in the descending pain modulatory system. Cuff-pressure-algometry offers a standardised CPM assessment tool although comprehensive validation in large samples is lacking. To address this, we pooled cuff-algometry CPM data from 324 healthy participants across 8 studies. CPM magnitude was calculated as pain detection (PDT) and tolerance (PTT) threshold changes, assessed on the dominant leg in the presence and absence of a painful “conditioning” cuff stimulus on the contralateral leg. CPM-effects were robust for both changes in PDT and PTT (p<0.001). Using a classification approach where a ≥20% change in threshold designated a CPM responder, 69% of participants were CPM-responders for PDT and 59% for PTT. Test-retest reliability data were assessed in a subset of participants (n=72; interval 16.49±18.39days) using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Test-retest reliability was poor for CPM-effects (ICC=0.25-0.37) despite moderate-to-good reliability for PDT and PTT (ICC=0.69-0.87). Responder classification showed none -to- minimal agreement across sessions (Cohen’s κ=0.17-0.21), with 38% of participants switching classification for both PDT and PTT. Bootstrap analysis revealed that smaller samples provide highly variable ICC estimates, potentially explaining discrepancies with previous reliability reports. Despite producing large group-level CPM-effects, poor test-retest reliability of cuff algometry suggests it captures dynamic, state-dependent processes rather than a stable trait-like individual characteristic. This highlights the need to consider the temporal instability of CPM when interpreting data and considering its deployment within precision pain medicine.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Assessment of pain types in recently diagnosed patients with inflammatory arthritis

  medRxiv · 2025-04-17 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract Objective Up to 40% of patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) experience persistent pain, traditionally thought to be associated with a shift from peripheral to centrally mediated pain during the disease course in some patients. We assessed sensory profiles of recently diagnosed individuals with IA, hypothesising that pain reported at this early stage of diagnosis is driven predominantly by peripheral joint inflammation. Methods Recently diagnosed IA patients with pain numerical rating scale (NRS) scores of ≥3 were recruited. We collected data on: Arthritis activity (Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28), musculoskeletal ultrasound); quality of life (Musculoskeletal Health questionnaire (MSK-HQ), Euro Quality of Life questionnaire (EQ-5D)); mental health status (Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety, Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS)), and pain characteristics (fibromyalgia criteria, painDETECT, Static and Dynamic Quantitative Sensory Testing, QST). Results 61 participants (57% female, 62% rheumatoid arthritis) were enrolled: mean age 49.8 ±15; time since diagnosis 1.2±2.3 months. 97% had peripheral joint inflammation, with a mean DAS-28 score of 3.8±1. However, 20% had a tender minus swollen joint count of ≥7, 21% met the fibromyalgia criteria and 25% had a painDETECT score of ≥19, which significantly correlated with DAS28, MSK-HQ and PHQ-ADS scores. QST revealed lowered pressure pain thresholds at non-articular sites in a subset of participants and facilitated temporal pain summation and deficient pain modulation in 18% and 61% of patients respectively. Conclusion This study provides evidence of centrally mediated pain at the time of diagnosis, challenging the notion that, even at the early stage of disease, pain is driven only by peripheral mechanisms. SIGNIFICANCE AND INNOVATIONS This study is the first to record comprehensive sensory profiles incorporating clinical examination, ultrasound, questionnaire, and quantitative sensory testing data in the early stage of inflammatory arthritis diagnosis. Of those tested, 97% had peripheral joint inflammation confirmed by clinical assessment and ultrasound. In addition, clinical, patient-reported and QST outcome measures revealed the likely presence of centrally mediated pain in a subset of participants. These findings challenge the current belief that only peripheral mechanisms driven by joint inflammation underpin pain in the early stage of disease progression, highlighting a role for centrally mediated pain even in the early stage of disease.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• OA39 Assessment of pain types in recently diagnosed patients with inflammatory arthritis

  Lara D. Veeken · 2025-04-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Background/Aims Up to 40% of patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) experience persistent pain which, as the disease progresses, is likely to be underpinned by distinct peripherally versus centrally mediated mechanisms. This study assessed the sensory profiles of recently diagnosed individuals with IA, hypothesising that pain at this early stage is primarily driven by peripheral joint inflammation. Methods Patients with a recent IA diagnosis and a pain numerical rating scale (NRS) score of ≥ 3 were recruited for the study. Data collected included demographics, Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28CRP), quality of life (measured by MSK-HQ and EQ-5D), mental health status (PHQ-ADS), musculoskeletal ultrasound findings, and pain characteristics (using painDETECT, fibromyalgia criteria, and static and dynamic quantitative sensory testing [QST]). Results 61 participants (57% female, 62% with rheumatoid arthritis) were analysed, with a mean age of 49.8 ± 15 years and an average time since diagnosis of 1.2 ± 2.3 months. The mean DAS28 score was 3.8 ± 1, and the mean NRS pain score was 5.5 ± 2.1. Criteria for anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms were fulfilled in 62%, 66%, and 80% of participants, respectively. As expected, 97% had peripheral joint inflammation confirmed by clinical assessment and ultrasound. Unexpectedly, in addition, 20% had a tender-minus-swollen joint count of ≥ 7, 25% had a painDETECT score of ≥ 19, and 21% met the fibromyalgia criteria, indicating potential centrally mediated pain. These outcomes significantly correlated with DAS28, MSK-HQ, and PHQ-ADS scores. QST findings showed evidence of abnormal central pain processing in a subset of participants, where enhanced pain facilitatory and reduced pain inhibitory mechanisms were recorded. Conclusion This work provides the first detailed study of sensory profiles in individuals in the early stages of IA. Evidence of centrally mediated pain, present even at the time of diagnosis, was obtained. Our findings challenge the notion that, at the early stage of disease, pain is driven only by peripheral mechanisms. This has implications for pain relief therapeutic targets. Disclosure Z. Rutter-Locher: Grants/research support; NIHR301674. S. Norton: None. J. Taylor: None. B. Menon: None. T. Esterine: None. R. Williams: None. L. Taams: None. K. Bannister: None. B. Kirkham: None.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Assessment of Pain Types in Recently Diagnosed Patients With Inflammatory Arthritis

  Arthritis Care & Research · 2025-09-18 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: Up to 40% of patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) experience persistent pain, traditionally thought to be associated with a shift from peripherally to centrally mediated pain during the disease course in some patients. We assessed sensory profiles of recently diagnosed individuals with IA, hypothesizing that pain reported at this early stage of diagnosis is driven predominantly by peripheral joint inflammation. METHODS: Recently diagnosed patients with IA with pain numerical rating scale scores of ≥3 were recruited. We collected data on the following: arthritis activity (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28], musculoskeletal ultrasonography), quality of life (Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire [MSK-HQ], EuroQol 5-domain), mental health status (Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety-Depression Scale [PHQ-ADS]), and pain characteristics (fibromyalgia criteria, painDETECT, static and dynamic quantitative sensory testing [QST]). RESULTS: Sixty-one participants (57% female, 62% with rheumatoid arthritis) were enrolled (mean ± SD age 49.8 ± 15 years; mean ± SD time since diagnosis 1.2 ± 2.3 months). Ninety-seven percent had peripheral joint inflammation, with a mean ± SD DAS28 score of 3.8 ± 1. However, 21% met the fibromyalgia criteria, 25% had a painDETECT score of ≥19, and 20% had a tender joint count minus swollen joint count of ≥7, which significantly correlated with DAS28, MSK-HQ, and PHQ-ADS scores. QST revealed lowered pressure pain thresholds at nonarticular sites in a subset of participants and facilitated temporal pain summation and deficient pain modulation in 18% and 61% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of centrally mediated pain at the time of diagnosis, challenging the notion that, even at the early stage of disease, pain is driven only by peripheral mechanisms.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A back-translational study of descending interactions with the induction of hyperalgesia by high-frequency electrical stimulation in rats and humans

  Pain · 2024 · 21 citations

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Medicine

  ABSTRACT: In humans and animals, high-frequency electrocutaneous stimulation (HFS) induces an "early long-term potentiation-like" sensitisation, where synaptic plasticity is underpinned by an ill-defined interaction between peripheral input and central modulatory processes. The relative contributions of these processes to the initial pain or nociceptive response likely differ from those that underpin development of the heightened response. To investigate the impact of HFS-induced hyperalgesia on pain and nociception in perception and neural terms, respectively, and to explore the impact of descending inhibitory pathway activation on the development of HFS-induced hyperalgesia, we performed parallel studies utilising identical stimuli to apply HFS concurrent to (1) a conditioned pain modulation paradigm during psychophysical testing in healthy humans or (2) a diffuse noxious inhibitory controls paradigm during in vivo electrophysiological recording of spinal neurones in healthy anaesthetised rats. High-frequency electrocutaneous stimulation alone induced enhanced perceptual responses to pinprick stimuli in cutaneous areas secondary to the area of electrical stimulation in humans and increased the excitability of spinal neurones which exhibited stimulus intensity-dependent coded responses to pinprick stimulation in a manner that tracked with human psychophysics, supporting their translational validity. Application of a distant noxious conditioning stimulus during HFS did not alter perceived primary or secondary hyperalgesia in humans or the development of primary or secondary neuronal hyperexcitability in rats compared with HFS alone, suggesting that, upon HFS-response initiation in a healthy nervous system, excitatory signalling escapes inhibitory control. Therefore, in this model, dampening facilitatory mechanisms rather than augmenting top-down inhibitions could prevent pain development.

  PublisherDOI

• EP.04A.04 Real-World Data of LDCT Lung Cancer Screening Implementation in a Public Healthcare System: Quebec Three 3-Year Experience

  Journal of Thoracic Oncology · 2024-10-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The association between psychosocial factors and mental health symptoms in cervical spine pain with or without radiculopathy on health outcomes

  Physiotherapy · 2024-06-01 · 1 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• The association between psychosocial factors and mental health symptoms in cervical spine pain with or without radiculopathy on health outcomes: a systematic review

  Research Square · 2023-01-09 · 1 citations

  reviewOpen access

  Abstract Background Neck pain, with or without radiculopathy, can have significant negative effects on physical and mental wellbeing. Mental health symptoms are known to worsen prognosis across a range of musculoskeletal conditions. Understanding the association between mental health symptoms and health outcomes in this population has not been established. Our aim was to systematically review the association between psychosocial factors and/or mental health symptoms on health outcomes in adults with neck pain, with or without radiculopathy. Methods A systematic review of published and unpublished literature databases was completed. Studies reporting mental health symptoms and health outcomes in adults with neck pain with or without radiculopathy were included. Due to significant clinical heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was completed. Each outcome was assessed using GRADE. Results Twenty-three studies were included (N = 21,968 participants). Sixteen studies assessed neck pain only (N = 17,604 participants); seven studies assessed neck pain with radiculopathy (N = 4,364 participants). Depressive symptoms were associated with poorer health outcomes in people with neck pain and neck pain with radiculopathy. These findings were from seven low-quality studies, and an additional six studies reported no association. Low-quality evidence reported that distress and anxiety symptoms were associated with poorer health outcomes in people with neck pain and radiculopathy and very low-quality evidence showed this in people with neck pain only. Stress and higher job strain were negatively associated with poorer health outcomes measured by the presence of pain in two studies of very low quality. Conclusions There is a negative association of mental health symptoms and health outcomes in people with neck pain, with or without radiculopathy. These findings are based on a small number of highly heterogenous, low- and very low-quality studies. Clinicians should continue to utilise robust clinical reasoning when assessing the complex factors impacting a person’s presentation with neck pain with or without radiculopathy. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020169497

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The association between psychosocial factors and mental health symptoms in cervical spine pain with or without radiculopathy on health outcomes: a systematic review

  BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders · 2023 · 21 citations

  • Medicine
  • Physical therapy
  • Psychiatry

  BACKGROUND: Neck pain, with or without radiculopathy, can have significant negative effects on physical and mental wellbeing. Mental health symptoms are known to worsen prognosis across a range of musculoskeletal conditions. Understanding the association between mental health symptoms and health outcomes in this population has not been established. Our aim was to systematically review the association between psychosocial factors and/or mental health symptoms on health outcomes in adults with neck pain, with or without radiculopathy. METHODS: A systematic review of published and unpublished literature databases was completed. Studies reporting mental health symptoms and health outcomes in adults with neck pain with or without radiculopathy were included. Due to significant clinical heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was completed. Each outcome was assessed using GRADE. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies were included (N = 21,968 participants). Sixteen studies assessed neck pain only (N = 17,604 participants); seven studies assessed neck pain with radiculopathy (N = 4,364 participants). Depressive symptoms were associated with poorer health outcomes in people with neck pain and neck pain with radiculopathy. These findings were from seven low-quality studies, and an additional six studies reported no association. Low-quality evidence reported that distress and anxiety symptoms were associated with poorer health outcomes in people with neck pain and radiculopathy and very low-quality evidence showed this in people with neck pain only. Stress and higher job strain were negatively associated with poorer health outcomes measured by the presence of pain in two studies of very low quality. CONCLUSIONS: Across a small number of highly heterogenous, low quality studies mental health symptoms are negatively associated with health outcomes in people with neck pain with radiculopathy and neck pain without radiculopathy. Clinicians should continue to utilise robust clinical reasoning when assessing the complex factors impacting a person's presentation with neck pain with or without radiculopathy. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020169497.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Nicolas Spahr

  Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

  7 shared

• Stephanie T. Jong

  University of East Anglia

  5 shared

• Kirsty Bannister

  King's College London

  5 shared

• Iain Raeburn

  University of Victoria

  5 shared

• Toby O. Smith

  University of Oxford

  4 shared

• Michael Mansfield

  University of Birmingham

  4 shared

• Michael Thacker

  Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

  3 shared

• Henryk Hecht

  3 shared

Education

• MPhil/PhD, Neuroimaging

  King's College London

Awards & honors

• CSCC President-Elect
• 2026 conference program chair
• President of CSCC (beginning a one-year term)