When pain persists long after the initial cause is healed or cured, the clear implication is that significant changes in the brain have occurred. Pain Center investigators dedicate themselves to understanding the molecular and cellular changes that result in chronic pain.In order to properly treat patients with pain, it is essential to understand how pain is communicated and modulated in the brain. Diverse research approaches are employed to clarify the mechanisms of pain transmission and modulation, including the identification of pain-related molecules, physiological studies of nerve cells in animals, and behavioral studies.
We are extending our research efforts. Imaging of activity in human brains and genetic analysis of pain in new animal models will enrich our knowledge of how people and animals perceive pain.
With the help of supporters, our long-term goal is to reveal the precise mechanisms of pain perception.