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Stanford scientists have created a lab-grown model of a human pain pathway using four clusters of nerve cells. This "brain assembloid" mimics the signaling chain from skin to cortex, allowing researchers to test potential analgesic drugs and study pain syndromes like erythromelalgia. The model, detailed in Nature, uses capsaicin to induce pain signals, demonstrating its ability to track signal transmission. While simplified, it offers a crucial advancement over animal testing and single-cell studies, paving the way for new drug development and understanding of neurological disorders.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.