Researchers at Stanford Medical have made a significant model that could transform how we understand and treat pain. In an innovative study, the scientists successfully recreated a key nerve pathway responsible for sensing pain — all within a laboratory dish. Recreating the Human Pain Pathway This recreated pathway mimics how signals travel from the skin to the brain, where they are processed to give rise into the sensation we recognize as pain. Traditionally studied using animal models, pain signaling has been hampered by differences between species. But now, with a human-based lab model, researchers can explore these signals with greater accuracy. A Miniature Nervous System, Built in the Lab Led by Dr. Sergiu Pasca and published in Nature on April 9, the study marks the first time scientists have successfully assembled a human-derived system that replicates the full pain-signaling pathway. This lab-grown model includes all four key components that work together to transmit pain signals from the body to the brain: 1. Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG): A cluster of sensory nerve cells located in the peripheral nervous system. These cells are the first to detect pain signals from the skin, muscles, and other tissues. 2. Spinal Cord (Second-Order Neurons): Pain signals from the DRG are transmitted to second-order neurons located in the spinal cord, which then relay the signals upward. 3. Thalamus: The third stop is the thalamus, a key relay station in the brain that processes and routes sensory information, including pain. 4. Somatosensory Cortex: The final connection where the brain interprets incoming signals as the conscious perception of pain. “For the first time, we can watch pain signals travel through this whole pathway outside the human body,” said Dr. Pasca, who directs Stanford’s Brain Organogenesis Program. “This could help us discover better ways to treat pain disorders.”
A Compassionate Step Forward Importantly, this model allows scientists to observe how pain signals move through the nervous system — without the system actually feeling pain. This makes it a powerful, humane alternative to traditional models, aligning scientific progress with compassion. Leading the Way The research was conducted by postdoctoral scholars Dr. Ji-il Kim and Dr. Kent Imaizumi, under the guidance of Dr. Pasca. Their work is part of Stanford’s ongoing commitment to advancing neuroscience through innovative technologies. A Hopeful Future for People in Pain This new tool will allow deeper understanding of chronic pain and more targeted treatments. For the millions living with pain disorders, it represents hope — hope for faster discoveries, more effective therapies, and improved quality of life. Watch a short video summarizing this work here: | 