New research from stanford shines a light on chronic pain

Enabling the mice to obtain pain relief from the glow of a yellow light, this research could eventually help scientists understand and treat chronic pain in humans.

Professor of bioengineering and mechanical engineering, Scott Delp, says this is an entirely new approach to studying what is a huge public health issue. “It’s a completely new tool that is now available to neuroscientists everywhere,” he said.

Currently, the mice are helping scientists to study pain and how it occurs. The study is also helping to shine a light on why some people feel it so intensely without any apparent injury.

So how does it work?

The mice are modified using a method of gene therapy, in turn enabling pain-sensitive nerves that can be controlled by light. One colour of light makes the mice more sensitive to pain, where another colour of light reduces their sensitivity to pain.

What does it mean?

Linda Porter, the pain policy adviser at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and a leader of the NIH’s Pain Consortium said the new research developments mean that one day, doctors may be able to use light to relieve pain in humans.

“The fact that we can give a mouse an injection and two weeks later shine a light on its paw to change the way it senses pain is very powerful,” said leading graduate student, Shrivats Iyer.

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