Neuropathic, Nociceptive & Inflammatory Pain
preclinical contract research services

MD Biosciences performs efficacy studies for proof-of-concept as well as assays for early screening and profiling of drug candidates. If there is a model or assay that you don't see listed, please contact a representative to discuss a custom assay design.

Pain
Pain is a crucial component of our body's defense system. It is a mechanism that allows us to remove ourselves from dangerous situations as we move away from noxious stimuli, prevents further damage as we escape stimuli that causes pain after an initial insult, and promotes the healing process as we take care to protect an injured part of the body. Pain is divided into two main categories: acute and chronic pain.

Acute or nociceptive pain is part of a rapid warning relay instructing the motor neurons of the central nervous system to minimize detected physical harm. Chronic pain, however, serves no biological function as it is not a symptom of a disease process itself but is classified as a disease. Chronic pain encompasses neuropathic pain, pain produced by damage to the neruons in the peripheral and central nervous system, and inflammatory pain. One of the challenges for researchers and clinicians alike is that chronic pain my involve a mix of both inflammatory and neuropathic components, wheras inflammation may cause damage to the neurons and produce neuropathic pain or neuronal injury may cause an inflammatory reaction that contributes to the inflammatory pain.