Mapping Chronic Pain

Fascinating new research on how pain gets from the affected area of the body to the brain. Countless interactions between nerves and other cells in the body create the sensory responses, including pain, that allow us to interact with the world. Researchers are cataloging the interactions, on the hunt for molecular reactions that result in the dysfunction of chronic pain. The goal of the research? A future of creating chronic pain better better.

Scientists conducting the research used a massive repository of RNA sequencing data to build a map of how specific cell types interact with peripheral sensory neurons. During the mapping process, they located a new pain-inducing molecule. This could truly be a target for future pain-relief treatments.