World’s first therapy to reverse spinal cord injury enters human trial

A paradigm shift in the way we treat spinal injuries is now in sight, with the world's first regenerative cell therapy approved for a Phase I clinical trial. It's a historical milestone that could reverse what has, until now, been an incurable injury.

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Pain pathway in a dish opens the door to better chronic pain treatments

Tiny 3D organs connected themselves in a lab dish, forming a replica of the human pain pathway, in a new study. The discovery allows scientists to better understand chronic pain and offers an animal-free method of testing pain treatments.

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World’s most popular OTC painkiller not so safe for over-65s

Taking one of the most widely-used painkillers for a prolonged period increases the risk of serious complications in older folks, according to a new study. It may mean rethinking the drug’s use as a first-line treatment for chronic conditions.

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Chronic pain lowered by better-quality diet, regardless of body weight

A new study has found that eating a better-quality diet was directly associated with a reduction in chronic pain severity, regardless of body fat. The findings suggest that upping diet quality could be an affordable and effective way to manage pain.

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Prevent future pain with pre-emptive, non-invasive brain stimulation

Researchers have flipped the script on the usual approach to pain relief in a new study, demonstrating that a short course of non-invasive brain stimulation before a painful event such as surgery can prevent the development of chronic pain.

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‘Hacked’ brain hormone targets gut pain – in totally new class of oral drugs

A peptide hormone produced in the brain that triggers physiological changes in reproduction has been 'hacked' to create an effective, safe and non-invasive way to treat chronic gut pain. Scientists are calling it an entirely new class of painkiller.

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“Bizarre” way ant venom hits a nerve: An exciting new path to pain relief

Insect venom may seem like an unlikely ally in the discovery of new human pain treatments, but the latest findings into the "unique" way a small ant causes us such agony is a big leap forward – and one that's expected to progress rapidly.

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