The Scherrer Lab is driving the development of nonaddictive painkillers by identifying and regulating nerve cells that are responsible for the pain!
Joint faculty member Gregory Scherrer, PhD, studies nerve cells responsible for the physical sensation of pain, with the goal of developing new nonaddictive painkillers. His work was featured in an NBC news article, Chronic pain is more common than diabetes or depression. Better treatments are emerging.
Dr. Scherrer shared with NBC news, “The goal would be to be able to shut off those cells or decrease their activity”. Dr. Scherrer went on to describe the promise of newer methods to stimulate nerve cells with electrodes or magnets, using techniques including peripheral nerve stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation.