RESEARCH - Calcium channels and chronic pain

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TAU Researcher Maps Drug Target To Wipe Pain Away

MedicalNewsToday.com

Article Date: 27 Apr 2010 - 5:00 PDT

In most cases of chronic pain - lingering pain that never seems to go

away after accidents or prolonged illnesses - no pill exists to dull

the hurt. Billions of dollars are lost every year in sick days taken

to alleviate chronic pain, and as much money is spent by the

healthcare system to diagnose what's wrong.

Dr. Hirsch of Tel Aviv University conducts basic research

investigating calcium channels in the human body, established targets

for the alleviation of chronic pain. His research, recently presented

at the Biophysical Society in San Francisco, provides new information

into how these channels work. His laboratory is developing

computer-derived models of drugs that might affect chronic pain - such

as pain from backaches, sore limbs and arthritis - which are targeted

for calcium channels.

" We have determined structures of calcium channel components which

provide a framework for drug design and targeting, " Dr. Hirsch says.

" There is still much to learn about calcium channels, which enable

pain signals to travel from the body to the brain. "

Once he and his colleagues understand the deeper mechanisms of these

channels, they hope to use new drugs to modulate them " on " and " off "

as needed - and provide relief to the millions of people who suffer

from the condition.

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